title: The positive effect on ketamine as a priming adjuvant in antidepressant treatment.
abstract: Ketamine is an anesthetic with antidepressant properties. The rapid and lasting effect of ketamine observed in preclinical and clinical research makes it a promising therapeutic to improve current major depression (MD) treatment. Our work intended to evaluate whether the combined use of classic antidepressants (imipramine or fluoxetine) and ketamine would improve the antidepressant response. Using an animal model of depressive-like behavior, we show that the addition of ketamine to antidepressants anticipates the behavioral response and accelerates the neuroplastic events when compared with the use of antidepressants alone. In conclusion, our results suggest the need for a reappraisal of the current pharmacological treatment of MD.
authors.affiliation: 1] Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [2] ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kokras
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dalla
authors.affiliation: 1] Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [2] ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: 1] Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [2] ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Ventura-Silva
authors.affiliation: 1] Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [2] ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.affiliation: 1] Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal [2] ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pêgo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety; D001224:Aspartic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003863:Depression; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005473:Fluoxetine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D007099:Imipramine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007649:Ketamine / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D005473:Fluoxetine; D001224:Aspartic Acid; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D007649:Ketamine; D007099:Imipramine