Abstract

The trafficking and abuse of Ketamine are a concern to law enforcement and drug treatment providers because of the drug’s increasing availability and its use in facilitating sexual assaults globally. The aim of this study is to investigate some of the effects of administration of ketamine intramuscularly (IM) on bebaviour in mice. The presumably 16 healthy male mice were used for this study; the animals were randomly divided in to two (2) groups, A and B, of eight (8) animals each. Group A were given 8 mg/ kg of the Ketamine (IM) and B were serve as control for 7 days. The exploratory and non – exploratory behaviours of the animals were assessed for 5 minutes using the elevated plus maze (EPM). The results suggested possible anxiolytic and schizophrenic symptoms after the administration.  

Key words: Ketamine, behaviour, schizophrenic symptoms, intramuscular, elevated plus maze.