Administration of low dose intranasal ketamine exerts a neuroprotective effect on whole brain irradiation injury model in wistar rats

Exposure to ionizing radiation leads to oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, resulting in neurocognitive impairments. Adverse effects are also associated with glutamate-induced excitotoxicity due to alterations in the composition of glutamate receptors. Ketamine, which is a noncompetitive NMDA glutamate receptor antagonist, has been stated to exert an impact on glutamatergic receptors. This study aims to reveal the possible alleviating or preventive effects of ketamine, which maintains glutamate homeostasis and decreases neurodegeneration, in a radiation-induced neurotoxicity model. Twenty-one female Wistar Queryrats were included in the study and 14 of these underwent whole brain irradiation (IR) with a 20 Gray single dose. Animals were allocated into three groups. Group 1: Normal control; Group 2: Placebo / IR + Saline; Group 3: IR + Ketamine. Ketamine was administered in addition to IR to rats in Group 3. The one-way ANOVA statistical test was used to compare groups. The value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. When administered in addition to irradiation, ketamine treatment significantly increased scores in the three-chamber sociability test, open field test, and passive avoidance learning test. It also raised neuron counts in the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions as well as in Purkinje cells, and enhanced levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and tyrosine receptor kinase-B. Furthermore, ketamine administration resulted in decreased levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein, malondialdehyde, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, indicating a reduction in neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. Ketamine exerted a significant protective impact on radiation-induced neurocognitive impairments and enhanced social-memory capacity by reducing neuronal loss, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation. Our findings suggest that ketamine is beneficial in the treatment or prevention of neurodegeneration via the regulation of the BDNF/TrkB signaling pathway besides decreasing neuroinflammation and blocking NMDA receptors.