Ketamine decreases HPA axis reactivity to a novel stressor in male but not female mice
bioRxiv Preprint Server June 29, 2021 Colin J. Johnston, Paul J. Fitzgerald, Jena S. Gewarges et al. 5 citations preprint
Ketamine, an antidepressant, interacts with the HPA axis, but its behavioral effects' dependence on this axis is unknown. In male and female mice subjected to chronic unpredictable stress, ketamine (30 mg/kg) or vehicle was given with or without metyrapone to block corticosterone production. No significant drug effects on behavior were observed. Males had higher fecal corticosterone levels and stress-induced increases than females. Ketamine lowered the corticosterone response to a novel stressor only in males. Corticosterone levels correlated with immobility in a behavioral test across all mice, suggesting shared neural circuitry for endocrine and behavioral responses that may be ketamine-responsive only in males.