Abstract #4530

Alterations of functional connectivity in the rat brain induced by NMDA receptor antagonists Traxoprodil and Lanicemine

Robert Becker¹, Natalia Gass¹, Lothar Kußmaul², David Schnell², Cornelia Dorner-Ciossek², Wolfgang Weber-Fahr¹, and Alexander Sartorius^1,3

¹RG Translational Imaging, Department Neuroimaging, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany, ²Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Ingelheim, Germany, ³Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany

Since ketamine has been found to act antidepressant, NMDA receptor antagonists are investigated regarding their potential use in therapy of depression. In this study we investigated the effects of traxoprodil and lanicemine on resting state functional connectivity in the rat brain. Both drugs significantly altered hippocampal-prefrontal (Hc-PFC) connectivity with more pronounced effect of traxoprodil. Interestingly the pronounced effects on intra PFC connectivity found in a previous ketamine study could not be observed. Traxoprodil also reduced whole brain network segregation. HC-PFC connectivity appears to be a promising target for further investigation of NMDA receptor antagonists and their antidepressant effects.

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