"Sex-Based Variations in Ketamine's Effects and Its Relationship to Opioid Pathways"

A study on rats has revealed that the effects of ketamine on depression and pain, as well as its interaction with opioid pathways, differ significantly between sexes. Blocking opioid receptors nullified ketamine’s impact only in male rats, suggesting a complex interplay between ketamine, opioid systems, and sex hormones. This discovery emphasizes the need to consider gender in ketamine treatment strategies and could explain previous inconsistencies in ketamine research. The findings also suggest that testosterone may inhibit males’ ability to compensate for blocked opioid receptors, unlike in females, who increase opioid receptor density in response.