AIM: To determine the function of miR-384-5p in ketamine-induced neurotoxicity.

MATERIAL and METHODS: Neonatal hippocampal neurons were isolated from rats and treated with varying doses of ketamine. RT?qPCR was utilized to measure the miR-384-5p level in ketamine-treated neurons. Neuronal viability was evaluated by MTT assay. TUNEL staining and flow cytometry were applied to measure neuronal apoptosis. H2-DCFDA staining was utilized to detect the intracellular ROS level. Protein levels were measured using Western blotting. A luciferase reporter experiment was used in HEK293T cells to verify the interaction of miR-384-5p with GABRB1.

RESULTS: Ketamine induced neurotoxicity and miR-384-5p upregulation in hippocampal neurons. miR-384-5p downregulation mitigated ketamine-induced neurotoxicity by restraining apoptosis and ROS activity in neurons. GABRB1 was demonstrated to be targeted by miR-384-5p. GABRB1 depletion worsened ketamine-induced neurotoxicity. Moreover, GABRB1 depletion lessened the protective effect of miR-384-5p inhibition against ketamine-mediated neurotoxicity.

CONCLUSION: miR-384-5p regulates ketamine-induced neurotoxicity in hippocampal neurons by targeting GABRB1.