The effect of ketamine on step-through latency and number of errors in mice

Objective To investigate the effect of ketamine on step-through latency and number of errors and to study the primary mechanism.?Methods The mice were randomly divided into six groups(n=10 each): normal saline group(NS group),securinine 1 mg·kg~(-1) group(S group),ketamine 5 mg·kg~(-1),10 mg·kg~(-1),20 mg·kg~(-1) groups(K_5,K_(10),K_(20) groups),securinine 1 mg·kg~(-1)+ketamine 20 mg·kg~(-1) group(SK group).The step-through latency and number of errors were recorded 24 h after the drugs were given in the step-through task.?Results In the ketamine groups,the step-through latency decreased and the number of errors increased(P0.05,P0.01),seemingly in a dose-dependent manner.As the SK group was compared with the K_(20) group,the step-through latency was increased and the number of errors decreased(P0.01),but neither of them attainef the levels in NS group.?Conclusion GABA_A receptor bears a part in the impairment of memory by ketamine in mice.