AUTHOR=Chen Haixia , Zhao Xinxin , Ma Xinxu , Ma Hongzhe , Zhou Cuihong , Zhang Yunyun , Peng Zhengwu , Xue Shanshan , Cai Min 

TITLE=Effects of esketamine and fluoxetine on depression-like behaviors in chronic variable stress: a role of plasma inflammatory factors

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Psychiatry

VOLUME=Volume 15 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1388946

DOI=10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1388946

ISSN=1664-0640

ABSTRACT=Mounting evidence has identified the rapid and sustained antidepressive and anxiolytic-like effects of esketamine. However, the underlying mechanism of this no-monoamine target rapid-onset antidepressant is still underexplored. Immune-inflammatory pathways and cellmediated immune activation, mainly including inflammatory cytokines in plasma, play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of major depressive disorder and are also a potential therapeutic target for MDD. The current study was designed to clarify the role of esketamine on the expression of plasma cytokines in a depressive-like model introduced by chronic variable stress (CVS).In this study, a 21-day consecutive CVS exposure produced significant depressive-and anxiety-like behaviors. Both a single dose of esketamine and 7-days repeated fluoxetine administration elicited anti-depressive and anxiolytic effects in mice exposed to CVS.