The role of NMDARs in the anesthetic and antidepressant effects of ketamine.
CNS neuroscience & therapeutics April 1, 2024 Liang Zhou, Jingjing Duan
Ketamine, a dissociative anesthetic and PCP analog, produces rapid loss of consciousness at anesthetic doses and rapid, lasting antidepressant effects at subanesthetic doses. This review describes ketamine's metabolism and recent advances in understanding how NMDAR inhibition mediates both effects. The roles of NMDARs in anesthesia are well studied, but their involvement in antidepressant actions is complex and debated. The authors also explore possible functions of NMDAR subunits and discuss future directions for ketamine-based drugs.