α-tocopherol alleviates ketamine toxicity in rat brain neurons.
BMC pharmacology & toxicology January 30, 2026 Enayatollah Seydi, Sana Ghanizadeh, Farzaneh Jokar et al.
Ketamine, a drug with various pharmacological effects, can cause brain side effects and neurotoxicity by inducing oxidative stress and impairing mitochondrial function. In rat brain neurons, ketamine reduced cell viability (half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 4 µM) and, at 2, 4, and 8 µM, increased reactive oxygen species, damaged mitochondrial and lysosomal membranes, and raised cytochrome c release. The antioxidant α-tocopherol at 10 µM prevented these effects caused by 8 µM ketamine: it reduced oxidative stress, preserved membrane integrity, and decreased apoptosis signaling, suggesting a potential protective role against ketamine neurotoxicity.