Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy
Open Access

Abstract

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important neurotrophic factor associated with cognitive function, learning and memory as well as synaptic plasticity. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is widely distributed in vivo. NGF may play an important role in promoting the development of the nervous system; maintaining neuronal growth, survival and differentiation; and influencing synaptic plasticity. We investigated the serum levels of BDNF and NGF in a group of chronic ketamine abusers in comparison to healthy controls. The correlations between the serums BDNF, NGF level with the subjectsâ�?�? demographic, pattern of ketamine use were also examined. 93 subjects who met the criteria of ketamine dependence and 39 healthy subjects were recruited. Serum BDNF and NGF levels were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Psychopathological symptoms were assessed using Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). We found both serum levels of BDNF and NGF were significant lower in the ketamine users compared to the healthy control subjects (9.50�?±6.68 versus 14.37�?±6.07 ng/ml, p=0.019 for BDNF; 1.93�?±0.80 versus 2.60�?±1.07 ng/ml, p=0.011 for NGF). BDNF level was negatively associated with current frequency of ketamine use (r=â�?�?0.209, p=0.045). BDNF and NGF may play a role in chronic ketamine related symptoms and may possibly serve as potential approach for therapy.

Biography

Ni Fan, MD completed her PhD from Louisiana State University Health Science Center at 2009 and continued her Post-doc training at Yale University School of Medicine from 2009 to 2012. Currently, she is the Vice Director of the Psychiatric Research Institute of Guangzhou Brain Hospital, the Affiliated Brain Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University. Her research was funded by National Nature Science Foundation of China.