Effects of a subanesthetic dose of ketamine and acute stress on the major (p75, Trkb, Trkc) and novel (Sorcs1, Sorcs2, Sorcs3) neurotrophin receptors and Bdnf gene expression in rats were examined. Adult male Wistar rats were treated with ketamine (15 mg/kg) or saline and half of each group was subjected to tail suspension test for 6 minutes, which was interpreted as an acute mild stressor. After an hour the total RNA was isolated from prefrontal cortex, midbrain and brainstem regions of each

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... imal and mRNA expressions were analysed by real-time RT-PCR. The results showed different significant interactions between factors which were strongly dependent on the structure of the brain. Both subanesthetic doses of ketamine and acute mild stress caused changes in neurotrophin receptors and Bdnf gene expression in examined brain areas associated with depression. The obtained results allow to surmise that BDNF, SORCS1, SORCS3 and p75 receptors are involved in the ketamine-induced neuroplasticity and antidepressant activity.