(a) Primary cultures were incubated with ketamine or the typical antidepressants fluoxetine (FLX) or desipramine (DMI) for 1 hr and levels of BDNF in the media were assessed by ELISA. Ketamine, but not fluoxetine or desipramine increased levels of BDNF release. (b, c) Incubation with LY341495 (10 nM, 30 min) or GLYX-13 (3 nM, 15 min) also increased BDNF release. (d, e) Cortical cultures were pretreated with NBQX 20 min prior to treatment with LY341495 (30 min) or GLYX-13 (15 min). Following drug incubations, media was collected and BDNF release was determined. NBQX significantly blocked BDNF release induced by LY341495 or GLYX-13. NBQX on its own did not affect release of BDNF. All results are presented as mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.005, ***p < 0.0005 compared to vehicle or blockade (ANOVA and Fisher’s post-hoc least significant difference to test for results in a, d, e, and Students t test was used for results in b and c).