Journal of Clinical Toxicology
Open Access
ISSN: 2161-0495
+44 1478 350008
ISSN: 2161-0495
+44 1478 350008
Vesna Pesic
University of Belgrade, Serbia
Posters & Accepted Abstracts: J Clin Toxicol
Statement of the Problem: The emergence of rapid-acting antidepressants such as ketamine has motivated studies aiming to reveal the molecular mechanism of the ketamine antidepressant effect and to enable the clinical application of rapid-acting antidepressants. Furthermore, potential role of Integrin Beta-3 (ITGB3) and close homologue of L1 (CHL1), in the mode of action of antidepressants was postulated. There is substantial number of ongoing studies addressing the antidepressant effects of ketamine in depressed patients and animal models of depression. Reduction of depressive symptoms in humans could be compared with the reduction in immobility time in the forced swim test in rodents after acute ketamine treatment. Methodology & Theoretical Orientation: Using corticosterone-induced chronic stress and depression model we have previously demonstrated reduction of expression of ITGB3 in prefrontal cortex (PFC) of stressed/depressed animals, and protective role of 14-day long oxytocin treatment on DNA oxidative damage and expression of ITGB3 in this model. In the ongoing study we are exploring effects of acute ketamine treatment on behavioral and molecular markers of depression and oxidative stress. Also, IHC analysis is applied in order to examine potential biochemical pathways involved in the rapid antidepressant response to ketamine, and weather the activation of the ventral hippocampus-medial prefrontal cortex-dorsal raphae nuclei (vHC-mPFC-DRN) neuronal pathway may mediate the antidepressant effect of ketamine. Conclusion & Significance: Hopefully, our current results will contribute to the progress in ketamine research and to more precisely identify molecular markers and neuronal pathways involved in ketamine�s mode of action. Further longitudinal clinical trials are necessary to identify patients that would be good candidates and responders to the ketamine treatment or successful application of novel rapid-acting antidepressants in the future.
Email: vepesic@pharmacy.bg.ac.rs