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Distribution of Vesicular Glutamate Transporter 2 and Ionotropic Glutamate Receptors in the Auditory Ganglion and Cochlear Nuclei of Pigeons ( C olumba livia )
Author(s) -
Karim M. R.,
Atoji Y.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
anatomia, histologia, embryologia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.34
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1439-0264
pISSN - 0340-2096
DOI - 10.1111/ahe.12173
Subject(s) - glutamatergic , glutamate receptor , kainate receptor , ampa receptor , spiral ganglion , neuroscience , cochlear nucleus , excitatory postsynaptic potential , ionotropic effect , metabotropic glutamate receptor , metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 , biology , chemistry , cochlea , receptor , brainstem , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , biochemistry
Summary Glutamate is a principal excitatory neurotransmitter in the auditory system. Our previous studies revealed localization of glutamate receptor m RNA s in the pigeon cochlear nuclei, suggesting the existence of glutamatergic input from the auditory nerve to the brainstem. This study demonstrated localization of m RNA s for vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (v G lu T 2) and ionotropic glutamate receptors ( AMPA , kainate and NMDA ) in the auditory ganglion ( AG ) and cochlear nuclei (magnocellular, angular and laminar nuclei). VG lu T 2 m RNA was intensely expressed in AG and intensely or moderately in the cochlear nuclei. The AG and cochlear nuclei showed intense‐to‐moderate m RNA signals for G lu A 2, G lu A 3, G lu A 4, G lu K 4 and G lu N 1. These results suggest that the pigeon AG neurons receives glutamatergic input from hair cells and in turn projects to the magnocellular and angular nuclei. Glutamate may play a pivotal role in the excitatory synapse transmission in the peripheral auditory pathway of birds.