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TrkB mRNA was shown to be localized in the somatodendritic compartment in vitrobut no data are currently available on the subcellular distribution of the neurotrophin receptors mRNAs in vivo. Here we describe the subcellular distribution of TrkA, TrkB, TrkC and p75 mRNAs in the adult rat basal forebrain. We find that TrkA, TrkC and p75 mRNAs are restricted to the cell soma but in addition, p75 mRNA labelling extends in average for 8 μm within the proximal dendrites of 34 of the labelled neurons. TrkB mRNA has a somatodendritic distribution in 95 of the labelled neurons reaching variable distances in different neurons (23–84.5 μm) and forebrain regions (mean: 40, 51 and 55 μm for diagonal band, septum and ventral pallidum).