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Comparative distribution of messenger RNAs encoding glutamic acid decarboxylases (M r 65,000 and M r 67,000) in the basal ganglia of the rat
Author(s) -
Mercugliano M.,
Soghomonian J.J.,
Qin Y.,
Nguyen H. Q.,
Feldblum S.,
Erlander M. G.,
Tobin A. J.,
Chesselet M.F.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
journal of comparative neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.855
H-Index - 209
eISSN - 1096-9861
pISSN - 0021-9967
DOI - 10.1002/cne.903180302
Subject(s) - glutamate decarboxylase , biology , substantia nigra , messenger rna , glutamic acid , globus pallidus , microbiology and biotechnology , rna , striatum , basal ganglia , biochemistry , neuroscience , amino acid , enzyme , gene , central nervous system , dopamine , dopaminergic
Glutamic acid decarboxylase, the enzyme required for GABA synthesis, exists as distinct isoforms, which have recently been found to be encoded by different genes. The relative expression of messenger RNAs encoding two isoforms of glutamic acid decarboxylase (M r 67,000 and M r 65,000) was measured at the single‐cell level in neurons of the rat basal ganglia with in situ hybridization histochemistry. Both messenger RNAs were expressed in neurons of the striatum, pallidum, and substantia nigra pars reticulata, but marked differences in the relative level of labelling were observed with the two probes. In striatum, efferent neurons were more densely labelled for the messenger RNA encoding glutamic acid decarboxylase (M r 65,000) than for the messenger RNA encoding glutamic acid decarboxylase (M r 67,000), whereas the reverse was observed for GABA‐ergic interneurons. Neurons of the entopeduncular nucleus were much more densely labelled for messenger RNA encoding glutamic acid decarboxylase (M r 65,000) than for messenger RNA encoding glutamic acid decarboxylase (M r 67,000). In addition, labelling for messenger RNA encoding glutamic acid decarboxylase (M r 65,000) was higher in the entopeduncular nucleus (internal pallidum) than in the globus pallidus (external pallidum), a structure which expressed similar levels of both mRNAs. In contrast to neurons of the internal pallidum, efferent neurons of the substantia nigra pars reticulata expressed slightly more messenger RNA encoding glutamic acid decarboxylase (M r 67,000) than that encoding the other isoform of the enzyme. The results suggest a differential expression of the messenger RNAs encoding the two isoforms of glutamic acid decarboxylase in subpopulations of basal ganglia neurons in rats.