Expression of GABArho subunits during rat cerebellum development

Neurosci Lett. 2008 Feb 13;432(1):1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.neulet.2007.11.062. Epub 2007 Dec 14.

Abstract

In the present study, we provide evidence for the expression of all three GABA(C) receptor rho subunits through development of the rat cerebellum. Injection of cerebellum mRNA into frog oocytes gave rise to the expression of both GABA(A) and GABA(C) receptors. qRT-PCR of RNA isolated from postnatal developing cerebella showed that the expression of each rho subunit is relatively low, with a relative comparative expression of rho3>rho1>rho2. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry revealed a limited distribution of GABA(C) receptors in the Purkinje and Golgi neurons whereas electron microscopy detected the rho1 and rho2 subunits in the soma and dendritic tree of the Purkinje cells. The expression of GABA(C) receptors in the cerebellum adds a new dimension to the regulation of GABAergic neurotransmission and suggests further experiments to determine their functional consequences.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anura
  • Cerebellum / growth & development*
  • Cerebellum / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Male
  • Microscopy, Immunoelectron
  • Oocytes / physiology
  • Purkinje Cells / physiology
  • Purkinje Cells / ultrastructure
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Receptors, GABA / genetics*
  • Receptors, GABA / metabolism
  • Receptors, GABA-A
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

Substances

  • Gabrr1 protein, rat
  • Gabrr2 protein, rat
  • Gabrr3 protein, rat
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, GABA
  • Receptors, GABA-A