Jahanshah Amin1
University of South Florida, USA
Title: A ketoxime analogue of ketamine with distinct molecular actions on GABAA and NMDA receptors demonstrates superior antidepressant activity
Biography
Biography: Jahanshah Amin1
Abstract
Abstract
Dissociative anesthetic ketamine can rapidly alleviate symptoms of psychiatric depression with prolonged duration of action. Despite the promise, untoward psycho-mimetic manifestations of ketamine have curbed its clinical application. In a search for a ketamine substitute with higher antidepressant activity and lower side effects, we synthesized several novel ketamine analogs and tested them in vitro and in vivo. A ketoxime analog, termed oximeamine, shows the following pharmacological properties compared to ketamine: First, oximeamine potentiates the activity of GABAA receptors, specifically that of cerebellar a6b2d subtype, with higher potency. Second, oximeamine blocks NMDA receptors with similar potency and efficacy yet associates with (on-rate) and dissociates from (off-rate) the NMDA receptors at a significantly faster rate. The relatively faster on- and off-rate of oximeamine appears most prominent at the NMDA NR1/NR2B receptor subtype. Third, neither oximeamine nor ketamine display any significant action on AMPA receptor subtypes. Finally, in forced swim test, oximeamine demonstrates a significantly greater antidepressant activity than ketamine. In conclusion, the differential yet lower intensity block of the NMDA receptor subtypes and the higher activity on the GABAA receptors, together with the more robust antidepressant activity herald the superiority of oximeamine over ketamine with higher antidepressant efficacy and lower side effects.