Glutamatergic receptor and neuroplasticity in depression: Implications for ketamine and rapastinel as the rapid-acting antidepressants

Abstract

Purpose of reviewTo explore the convergent downstream pathways of ketamine and rapastinel and drive further development of identification for following generational rapid-acting antidepressants in the synaptic process. Recent findingsKetamine is an NMDAR antagonist and is proven effective in depression for the rapid and sustained antidepressant response, while rapastinel is an NMDAR positive allosteric modulator, producing antidepressant effects like ketamine with no severe side effects. The common antidepressant effects of ketamine and rapastinel are BDNF and mTORC1 pathway in synaptic plasticity.