Raluca SIMIUC, Malina VISTERNICU, Viorica RARINCA
ABSTRACT :
The study explores the effects of ketamine in pathological models of zebrafish (Danio rerio), evaluating the impact on behavior, physiology and neurochemistry in the context of stress-related disorders and inflammation. Stress plays a central role in mental disorders, such as anxiety and depression, both of which are associated with complex neurobiological changes, such as dysfunction of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Ketamine is known for its sedative, antidepressant, and anxiolytic effects. In zebrafish, ketamine administration showed a significant reduction in anxiety-related behavior, improving neuroendocrine responses and decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress. Zebrafish, a widely used research model for the study of the central nervous system, provides a useful investigation platform for neuropsychiatric disorders such as depression. Previous studies have indicated that symptoms of anxiety and depression may have a common genetic origin, and ketamine has been shown to be effective in reducing these symptoms. Therefore, this study highlights the potential of ketamine in treating neuropsychiatric disorders at the preclinical level, providing new insights into its therapeutic mechanisms.