Effect of acute administration of ketamine and imipramine on creatine kinase activity in the brain of rats.
OBJECTIVE
Clinical findings suggest that ketamine may be used for the treatment of major depression. The present study aimed to compare behavioral effects and brain Creatine kinase activity in specific brain regions after administration of ketamine and imipramine in rats.


METHODS
Rats were acutely given ketamine or imipramine and antidepressant-like activity was assessed by the forced swimming test; Creatine kinase activity was measured in different regions of the brain.


RESULTS
The results showed that ketamine (10 and 15mg/kg) and imipramine (20 and 30mg/kg) reduced immobility time when compared to saline group. We also observed that ketamine (10 and 15mg/kg) and imipramine (20 and 30mg/kg) increased Creatine kinase activity in striatum and cerebral cortex. Ketamine at the highest dose (15mg/kg) and imipramine (20 and 30mg/kg) increased Creatine kinase activity in cerebellum and prefrontal cortex. On the other hand, hippocampus was not affected.


CONCLUSIONS
Considering that metabolism impairment is probably involved in the pathophysiology of depressive disorders, the modulation of energy metabolism (like increase in Creatine kinase activity) by antidepressants could be an important mechanism of action of these drugs.
Experimental Physiopathology Laboratory, Postgraduation Program in Health Sciences, Universidade do Extremo Sul Catarinense, Criciúma, SC, Brazil.
Lara C
LC
Assis
Gislaine T
GT
Rezin
Clarissa M
CM
Comim
Samira S
SS
Valvassori
Isabela C
IC
Jeremias
Alexandra I
AI
Zugno
João
J
Quevedo
Emilio L
EL
Streck
D000818:Animals; D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000378:metabolism*; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007099:Imipramine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013312:Stress, Physiological
D000929:Antidepressive Agents, Tricyclic; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D007649:Ketamine; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D007099:Imipramine