Ketamine alters the neurogenesis of rat cortical neural stem progenitor cells*

Abstract

Clinically relevant concentrations of ketamine do not induce cell death in neural stem progenitor cells via apoptosis or necrosis. Ketamine alters the proliferation and increases the neuronal differentiation of neural stem progenitor cells isolated from the rat neocortex. These studies imply that ketamine exposure during fetal or neonatal life may alter neurogenesis and subsequent brain development.