Fast-acting antidepressant-like effects of ketamine in aged male rats.
Pharmacological reports : PR October 1, 2024 Elena Hernández-Hernández, Sandra Ledesma-Corvi, Jordi Jornet-Plaza et al. 8 citations
A single dose of ketamine produced a fast-acting antidepressant-like effect in 14-month-old male rats, reducing immobility in the forced-swim test within 30 minutes, accompanied by increased levels of mature brain-derived neurotrophic factor (mBDNF) in the prefrontal cortex. However, repeated daily ketamine for 7 days did not sustain antidepressant-like effects and instead decreased mBDNF in the same brain region. Neither acute nor repeated ketamine altered hippocampal cell proliferation or other neurotrophic markers. The findings extend evidence for ketamine's rapid antidepressant potential to older age, but the loss of efficacy with repeated dosing and possible adverse effects in aging require further investigation.