Effects of low-dose ketamine combined with propofol on phosphorylation of AMPA receptor GluR1 subunit and GABAA receptor in hippocampus of stressed rats receiving electroconvulsive shock.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the effects of low-dose ketamine combined with propofol on the antidepressant efficacy in stressed rats undergoing electroconvulsive shock (ECS) and its impact on phosphorylation of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole-propionic acid receptor subunit glutamate receptor 1 (GluR1) and γ-aminobutyric acid receptor subunit A (GABAAR).

METHODS

Sprague-Dawley rats were stressed by chronic unpredictable mild stress. Fifty stressed rats were randomly divided into 5 groups (n = 10 per group): depression group (with no application, group D), ECS group (applied with ECS after intraperitoneal injection of isotonic sodium chloride solution, 8 mL/kg, group E), ketamine + ECS group (applied with ECS after intraperitoneal injection of ketamine, 10 mg/kg, group KE), propofol + ECS group (applied with ECS after intraperitoneal injection of propofol, 80 mg/kg, group PE), and ketamine + propofol + ECS group (applied with ECS after intraperitoneal injection of ketamine, 10 mg/kg, and propofol, 80 mg/kg, group KPE). All groups except group D underwent ECS once a day for 7 consecutive days. Sucrose preference test, open-field test, and Morris water maze were performed to assess the depressive behavior. Phosphorylation of GluR1 and GABAAR were evaluated by Western blot.

RESULTS

Compared with group D, sucrose preference percentage and open-field scores were increased after ECS application in the 4 other groups; rats in group E reported prolonged escape latency and shortened space exploration time, whereas the escape latency were decreased and space exploration time were prolonged in group KPE; the ratio of p-GluR1/p-GABAAR in hippocampus were increased in the 4 other groups. When using group E as control, rats in group KPE exhibited higher sucrose preference percentage and open-field scores; the escape latency was shortened and space exploration time was prolonged in groups KE, PE, and KPE; the ratio of p-GluR1/p-GABAAR in the hippocampus was up-regulated in groups KE and KPE. When compared with groups KE and PE, the rats in group KPE exhibited higher sucrose preference percentage and open-field scores, the escape latency of group KPE was shortened and space exploration time was prolonged, the ratio of p-GluR1/p-GABAAR in the hippocampus of group KEP is between those of groups KE and PE.

CONCLUSIONS

Low-dose ketamine combined with propofol may play a role in enhancing the antidepressant efficacy of ECS in stressed rats, ameliorating the cognitive impairment associated with ECS by balancing the expression of p-GluR1 and p-GABAAR in the hippocampus of stressed rats.