title: [Ketamine as an NMDA receptor antagonist].
abstract: Ketamine was first used in humans over 40 years ago. Since then, ketamine has not been always used in anesthetic practice because of its unique pharmacological properties such as sympathomimetic or psychomimetic effect. However, more interest in ketamine developed recently as ketamine reduces hyperalgesia due to opiate tolerance and may be potential neuroprotectives or antidepressants. These pharmacological actions are based on property of ketamine as an NMDA receptor antagonist. We describe basic NMDA receptor function and possible action of ketamine via the receptor.
authors: Department of Anaesthesiology, Hirosaki University Hospital, Hirosaki 036-8563.
authors: Tetsuya
authors: T
authors: Kushikata
authors: Kazuyoshi
authors: K
authors: Hirota
mesh_terms: D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007649:Ketamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000502:physiology; D013566:Sympathomimetics / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D013566:Sympathomimetics; D007649:Ketamine