Immunohistochemical localization of metabotropic and ionotropic glutamate receptors in the mouse brain

Differential expression of mGluR2 in the developing cerebral cortex of the mouse

Glutamatergic synaptic transmission is an essential component of neural circuits in the central nervous system. Glutamate exerts its effects by binding to various types of glutamate receptors, which are found distributed on neurons throughout the central nervous system. These receptors are broadly classified into two main groups, ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). Unlike iGluRs, the mGluRs are G-protein coupled receptors that exert their effects on postsynaptic membrane conductance indirectly through the downstream modification of ion channels. A subtype of mGluRs, the Group II mGluRs, are particularly interesting since their activation by glutamate results in a hyperpolarizing response. Thus, glutamate can act potentially as an inhibitory neurotransmitter, by binding to postsynaptic Group II mGluRs. Given the potential importance of these receptors in synaptic processing, the development of the central nervous system, and neurological disorders, we sought to characterize the expression of mGluR2 in the developing neocortex of the mouse. Therefore, we examined the distribution of mGluR2 in the developing cerebral cortex. We found a general caudal to rostral gradient in the expression of these receptors, with ventral cortical regions labeled caudally and dorsal regions labeled rostrally. Limbic regions highly expressed mGluR2 throughout the brain, as did sensory and motor cortical areas. Finally, other non-cortical structures, such as the thalamic reticular nucleus, amygdala, and mammillary bodies were found to have significant expression of the receptor. These results suggest that mGluR2 may play important roles in mediating glutamatergic inhibition in these structures and also could have a role in shaping the development of mature neural networks in the forebrain.

Modulator property of the intrinsic cortical projection from layer 6 to layer 4

Layer 4 of the sensory neocortex receives widespread convergent inputs from thalamic, intracortical, and corticocortical sources. Yet, the relative information bearing roles for most of these pathways remain largely undefined. Here we show that the intracortical projections from layer 6 to layer 4 exhibit a physiological property that is consistent with a modulator role. Using in vitro slice preparations of the auditory and somatosensory cortices, we found that electrical stimulation or photostimulation of layer 6 elicits a prolonged depolarizing response that is attributable to the activation of group 1 metabotropic glutamate receptors. These results complement the known physiological properties of the layer 6 to layer 4 pathway, and further suggest that this pathway is not a principle conduit for information flow, but rather acts as a modulator of cortical activity.

Cerebellar Grafts Partially Reverse Amino Acid Receptor Changes Observed in the Cerebellum of Mice with Hereditary Ataxia: Quantitative Autoradiographic Studies

We used quantitative autoradiography of [3H]CNQX (200 nM), [3H]muscimol (13 nM), and [3H]flunitrazepam (10 nM) binding to study the distribution of non-NMDA and GABAA receptors in the cerebellum of pcd mutant mice with unilateral cerebellar grafts. Nonspecific binding was determined by incubation with 1 mM Glu, 200 μM GABA, or 1 μM clonazepam, respectively. Saturation parameters were defined in wild-type and mutant cerebella. In mutants, non-NMDA receptors were reduced by 38% in the molecular layer and by 47% in the granule cell layer. The reduction of non-NMDA receptors in the pcd cerebellar cortex supports their localization on Purkinje cells. [3H] CNQX binding sites were visualized at higher density in grafts that had migrated to the cerebellar cortex of the hosts (4.1 and 11.0 pmol/mg protein, respectively, at 23 and 37 days after grafting) than in grafts arrested intraparen-chymally (2.6 and 6.2 pmol/mg protein, respectively, at 23 and 37 days after grafting). The pattern of expression of non-NMDA receptors in cortical vs. parenchymal grafts suggests a possible regulation of their levels by transacting elements from host parallel fibers. GABAA binding levels in the grafts for both ligands used were similar to normal molecular layer. Binding was increased in the deep cerebellar nuclei of pcd mutants: the increase in [3H]muscimol binding over normal was 215% and the increase in [3H]flunitrazepam binding was 89%. Such increases in the pcd deep cerebellar nuclei may reflect a denervation-induced supersensitivity subsequent to the loss of Purkinje axon terminal innervation. In the deep nuclei of pcd mutants with unilateral cerebellar grafts, [3H]muscimol binding was 31% lower in the grafted side than in the contralateral nongrafted side at 37 days after transplantation; [3H]fluni-trazepam binding was also lower in the grafted side by 15% compared to the nongrafted side. Such changes in GABAA receptors suggest a significant, albeit partial, normalizing trend of cerebellar grafts on the state of postsynaptic supersensitive receptors in the host cerebellar nuclei.