Sex-difference in rapid changes of hippocampal astrocytes and serum level of BDNF one hour after ketamine treatment

Abstract

The prevalence of major depression among women is higher than men. Preclinical studies indicate that astrocytes directly involved in the synaptic plasticity of hippocampus and the impairment of astrocytic plasticity is one of contributed mecha- nisms in the pathophysiology of major depression. Importantly, it has been indicated that the antidepressant effect of ketamine as a novel glutamatergic antidepressant drug emerges within hours and brain drive neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is one of the key factors underlying the rapid antidepressant effect of ketamine. Accordingly, in this study, we determined the effect of sex on the rapid morphological changes of hippocampal astrocytes and serum level of BDNF one hour after ketamine injection