title: Ketamine alone or combined with midazolam or dexmedetomidine does not affect anxiety-like behaviours and memory in adult Wistar rats.
abstract: Ketamine administration has been associated with controversial behavioural impairments and psychotic episodes. Even though ketamine alone and in combination with midazolam or dexmedetomidine are frequently used in laboratory animals, the side-effects of such protocols are not well known. Therefore, our aim was to evaluate the effects of ketamine alone and in combination with midazolam or dexmedetomidine on emotional reactivity, as well as the effects on learning and memory in adult rats at least 48 h after anaesthesia. The evaluation of the potential influence of 100 mg/kg ketamine administered alone and in combination with midazolam (5 mg/kg), or dexmedetomidine (0.25 mg/kg) on spatial learning and recognition memory was studied in adult Wistar rats using the radial maze as well as object recognition and location tests. The influence of these combinations on emotional reactivity was investigated using the new exploration test and the elevated plus maze. Results showed that ketamine alone or in combination with midazolam or dexmedetomidine affected neither spatial and recognition memory, nor emotional reactivity. These results reinforce the safe clinical use of ketamine and its combinations in rats in a research context since the administration of these anaesthetic combinations did not produce significant changes with regard to spatial and recognition memory or emotional reactivity. Furthermore, these results indicate that the quality of scientific data produced in adult rat neurobehavioural research is not jeopardized by the use of these anaesthetic protocols.
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute for Research Innovation in Health, Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, Porto, Portugal.|2 Addiction Biology, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, Porto, Portugal.|3 Behavioral Science Department, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute for Research Innovation in Health, Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, Porto, Portugal.|3 Behavioral Science Department, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, Porto, Portugal.|4 Laboratory of Animal Science, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valentim
authors.affiliation: 5 School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta dos Prados, Vila Real, Portugal.|6 Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmetal and Biological Sciences, CITAB, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta dos Prados, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Venâncio
authors.affiliation: 7 Functional Sciences Department, High Institute for Allied Health Technologies, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: 7 Functional Sciences Department, High Institute for Allied Health Technologies, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Melo
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute for Research Innovation in Health, Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, Porto, Portugal.|2 Addiction Biology, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, Porto, Portugal.|7 Functional Sciences Department, High Institute for Allied Health Technologies, Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal.
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Summavielle
authors.affiliation: 1 Institute for Research Innovation in Health, Rua Júlio Amaral de Carvalho, Porto, Portugal.|4 Laboratory of Animal Science, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, Porto, Portugal.|5 School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta dos Prados, Vila Real, Portugal.|6 Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmetal and Biological Sciences, CITAB, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Quinta dos Prados, Vila Real, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Antunes
mesh_terms: D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000009:adverse effects; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004644:Emotions / Q000187:drug effects*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007649:Ketamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D008874:Midazolam / Q000009:adverse effects; D051381:Rats / Q000502:physiology*; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D007649:Ketamine; D008874:Midazolam
keywords: Wistar rat; anaesthetic combinations; anxiety-like behaviours; ketamine; memory; midazolam