Fig. 1. Excessive glutamate causes neurotoxicity. 1Ketamine-caused AMPA activation promotes adenosine release, which binds to the adenosine receptors present in the presynaptic neuron and blocks the release of glutamate. 2Ketamine post-synaptically inhibits the NMDA receptors and blocks the eukaryotic elongation factor 2 (eEF2)-mediated inhibition of BDNF synthesis. 3Ketamine blocks the NMDA receptors present in the GABAergic neuron, and hence promotes the release of glutamate, which binds to the AMPA receptors, increases the release of Ca2+, and activates the BDNF/TrkB pathway.18.
