Latency to enter the threat zone was associated with altered hippocampal BDNF and TrkB mRNA. a “Fast” (n = 7, black) rats showed significantly greater hippocampal BDNF mRNA expression compared with “slow” (n = 7, gray) rats and non-defeated controls (n = 20, white), b resulting in a significant negative correlation between latency to enter the threat zone and hippocampal BDNF mRNA (intermediate 1/3 (n = 7) of defeated rats shown as gray triangles). c Similarly, fast rats showed significantly greater hippocampal TrkB mRNA expression compared with slow rats, d which also resulted in a significant negative correlation between latency to enter threat zone and hippocampal TrkB mRNA. Data shown are mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05 vs. slow