Role of the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside in the antidepressant effect of ketamine in mice.
European neuropsychopharmacology : the journal of the European College of Neuropsychopharmacology October 1, 2015 Miriam A Vogt, Anne S Vogel, Natascha Pfeiffer et al.
Ketamine is a fast-acting antidepressant but can cause psychosis-like side effects. The nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP) prevents such effects in rats and humans. In mice, pre-treatment with SNP (0.5-1 mg/kg) did not alter the antidepressant effect of ketamine (30 mg/kg) in the Porsolt Forced Swim Test, and SNP alone had no effect. This suggests the nitrinergic system may be differentially involved in ketamine's antidepressant versus psychotomimetic effects, though species differences cannot be ruled out.