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Differential distribution of NMDA receptor subunit mRNA in the rat cochlear nucleus
Author(s) -
Sato Kazuo,
Kuriyama Hiromichi,
Altschuler Richard A.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0029(19980501)41:3<217::aid-jemt5>3.0.co;2-q
Subject(s) - dorsal cochlear nucleus , cochlear nucleus , protein subunit , nucleus , messenger rna , in situ hybridization , nmda receptor , biology , cell type , microbiology and biotechnology , cell , receptor , chemistry , biochemistry , gene
The distribution and expression of mRNAs for different subunits of the N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate receptor (NMDAR) were examined in the cochlear nucleus (CN) of the rat using radioactive in situ hybridization methods. Heavy labeling for NMDAR1 subunit mRNA was observed in all major CN neuronal types with lower labeling for NMDAR2A, 2B, 2C, and 2D mRNA. Silver grain counting was used to compare expression of different NMDAR2 subunits between six of the major CN cell types. Small cells of the small cell cap/shell area had the highest expression of NMDAR2A–C subunit mRNAs of the cell types assessed. These small cells as well as fusiform and corn cells of the dorsal cochlear nucleus had higher NMDAR2C than other NMDAR2 subunits, providing these neuron types with a distinct expression pattern or profile. The other three cell types assessed, spherical bushy cells, granule cells, and octopus cells had relatively equivalent levels of NMDAR2A–C subunit expressions, providing a second distinct profile. NMDAR2D mRNA had low expression in all six cell types assessed. Microsc. Res. Tech. 41:217–223, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.