Changes In The Expression Of NMDA Receptor Subunit In The Hippocampus Of Neonatal Rats After Ketamine Anesthesia

Objective In the present study, reversetranscription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) technique and Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the changes in the expression of NMDA receptor subunit mRNAs and protein in the hippocampus ofneonatal rats after ketamine anesthesia. Methods: 1. RT-PCR Rats (n = 40)at postnatal day 7 (PND 7) were divided into PND 7 group and PND 28 group, and then each group was divided into five subgroups according different ketamine treatment. Group C: intraperitoneal injection of normal saline as control; Group K1: intraperitoneal injection of ketamine for 6 hr with the dosage of 100 mg/kg ; Group K2: intraperitoneal injection of ketamine for 2 hr each time and add up to 6 hr with the dosage of 100 mg/kg ; Group K3: intraperitoneal injection of ketamine for 6 hr with the dosage of 50 mg/kg. Group K4: intraperitoneal injection of ketamine for 2 hr each time and add up to 6 hr with the dosage of 50 mg/kg. The rats in PND7 group were killed 24 h after ketamine treatment and the rats in PND28 group were killed 3 w after ketamine treatment respectively. 2.