Fig. 2

Sex differences in the antidepressant-like effects of ketamine. A Acute (30 min post-treatment) and B repeated (1-day post-treatment) effects exerted by ketamine exposure in male and female rats in the forced-swim test (FST). Data represent mean ± SEM of the time spent (s) immobile, climbing, or swimming. C Repeated effects (3-days post-treatment) exerted by ketamine exposure in male and female rats in the novelty-suppressed feeding test (NSF). Data represent mean ± SEM of the feeding time (s) or distance traveled (cm). D Repeated effects (6–7 days post-treatment) exerted by ketamine exposure in male and female rats in the sucrose preference test (SP). Data represent mean ± SEM of sucrose intake (g/kg) or preference (%). A–D Individual values are shown for each rat (symbols). Two-way ANOVAs (independent variables: sex and treatment) were performed and results are shown in Additional file 1: Table S1. ^###p < 0.001 and ^#p < 0.05 when comparing female vs. male rats (effect of Sex). Student's t-tests for each sex separately: **p < 0.01 and *p < 0.05 vs. same sex saline-treated rats. Sal saline, Ket ketamine, Veh vehicle, LTZ letrozole