The group II metabotropic glutamate 2/3 (mGlu 2/3) receptor antagonist LY341495 produces antidepressant-like effects by acting on mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1) signaling and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionate (AMPA) receptors in rodent. We investigated whether LY341495 affects neuroplasticity via these mechanisms in rat primary hippocampal cultures under conditions of dexamethasone (DEX)-induced neurotoxicity. Ketamine was used for comparison. Hippocampal cultures were treated with LY341495 under conditions of DEX-induced toxicity. Changes in mTORC1-mediated proteins were determined by Western blotting analyses. Changes in dendritic outgrowth and spine density were evaluated via immunostaining. LY341495 significantly prevented DEX-induced decreases in the levels of mTORC1, 4E-BP1, and p70S6K phosphorylation as well as the levels of the synaptic proteins. These effects were blocked by pretreatment with the AMPA receptor inhibitor 2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7sulfamoyl-benzo(f)quinoxaline (NBQX) and the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin. LY341495 significantly attenuated DEX-induced decreases in dendritic outgrowth and spine density. Pretreatment with rapamycin and NBQX blocked these effects of LY341495. Further analyses indicted that induction of BDNF expression produced by LY341495 was blocked by pretreatment with NBQX and rapamycin. LY341495 has neuroplastic effects by acting on AMPA receptor-mTORC1 signaling under neurotoxic conditions. Therefore, activation of AMPA receptor and mTORC1 signaling, which enhance neuroplasticity, may be novel targets for new antidepressants. Depression is a very common mental disorder characterized by depressed mood, decreased interest, decreased cognitive function, and a chronic course with multiple physical symptoms 1. Antidepressant drugs are the most commonly used method of treating depression 2. Most antidepressant drugs currently used in clinical practice modulate the function of monoamines, such as serotonin, dopamine, and noradrenaline, in the central nervous system 3,4. However, the current research shifts the focus to molecular mechanisms that underlie long-lasting downstream changes in the brain after chronic antidepressant use. Among newly discovered findings regarding the molecular mechanisms of antidepressant drugs, there has been a great deal of research interest in the antidepressant effects of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling activation 5. A randomized trial reported that ketamine infusion improved the symptoms of depression in patients with treatment-resistant depression 6. In a systemic review and meta-analysis of patients with depression, a single ketamine infusion was shown to have a rapid antidepressant effect, but the effect lasted from 4 to 7 days 7. Thus, it has been clinically confirmed that ketamine has an antidepressant effect, but its mechanism of action has not been clearly elucidated. Li et al.