Ketamine, an anesthetic, has gained traction as a promising therapy for severe, treatment-resistant depression. A recent study involving zebrafish has provided fresh insights into how ketamine functions, emphasizing the role of astroglia cells rather than just neurons in the brain. When placed in a challenging environment, zebrafish display behaviors akin to human depressive traits. The research indicates that ketamine enhances the activity of astroglia, leading to increased resilience against perceived futility, highlighting its potential benefits in treating depression.
When the fish first perceive they aren't moving, activity in the astroglia cells ramps up, and the zebrafish begin to swim harder.
Most research attention has focused on neurons, but their team found that supporting cells called astroglia were the ones in play with this fish 'depression'.
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