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Redistribution and increased specificity of GABA B receptors during development of the rostral nucleus of the solitary tract
Author(s) -
Heck Wendy L.,
Renehan William E.,
Schweitzer Laura
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/s0736-5748(01)00031-4
Subject(s) - synaptogenesis , gabaergic , receptor , solitary tract , neuroscience , biology , nucleus , gabaa receptor , neurotransmitter , gamma aminobutyric acid , gabab receptor , synapse , central nervous system , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , biochemistry
Recent results show that there is an abundance of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) before GABAergic synapses have formed in the gustatory zone of the nucleus of the solitary tract. These results suggest that a non‐synaptic, developmental function may exist for GABA prior to synaptogenesis. However, GABA exerts its physiological effect via its receptors, the development of which is a largely unknown process. The developmental expression of one of the GABA receptors in the young nucleus of the solitary tract is the focus of this study. The development of GABA B receptors was investigated by light and electron microscopy. The results suggest that before the development of GABAergic synapses, GABA B receptors are diffusely distributed. When GABAergic synapses form, the receptors become clustered. Quantitative postembedding immunohistochemical studies at the electron microscopic level show that extrasynaptic labeling for GABA B receptors decreases during development, but synaptic labeling increases. Increased specificity of neurotransmitter receptors at synapses has been shown in other systems during development, including other central nervous system structures, but this may be the first demonstration of the phenomenon using quantitative electron microscopy.