Neuroprotective effect of ketamine against TNF--induced necroptosis in hippocampal neurons

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a crucial cytokine, has various homeostatic and pathogenic bioactivities. The aim of this study was to assess the neuroprotective effect of ketamine against TNF-alpha-induced motor dysfunction and neuronal necroptosis in male C57BL/6J mice in vivo and HT-22 cell lines in vitro. The behavioural testing results of the present study indicate that ketamine ameliorated TNF-alpha-induced neurological dysfunction. Moreover, immunohistochemical staining results showed that TNF-alpha-induced brain dysfunction was caused by necroptosis and microglial activation, which could be attenuated by ketamine pre-treatment inhibiting reactive oxygen species production and mixed lineage kinase domain-like phosphorylation in hippocampal neurons. Therefore, we concluded that ketamine may have neuroprotective effects as a potent inhibitor of necroptosis, which provides a new theoretical and experimental basis for the application of ketamine in TNF-alpha-induced necroptosis-associated diseases.