Elsevier

Neuroscience

Volume 236, 16 April 2013, Pages 345-372
Neuroscience

Patterns of mRNA and protein expression for 12 GABAA receptor subunits in the mouse brain

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.01.008Get rights and content
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Abstract

The GABAA receptor is the main inhibitory receptor in the brain and its subunits originate from different genes or gene families (α1–α6, β1–β3, γ1–γ3, δ, ε, θ, π, or ρ1–3). In the mouse brain the anatomical distribution of GABAA receptor subunit mRNAs so far investigated is restricted to subunits forming benzodiazepine-sensitive receptor complexes (α1–α3, α5, β2, β3 and γ2) in the forebrain and midbrain as assessed by in situ hybridization (ISH). In the present study the anatomical distribution of the GABAA receptor subunits α1–α6, β1–β3, γ1–γ2 and δ was analyzed in the mouse brain (excluding brain stem) by ISH and immunohistochemistry (IHC). In several brain areas such as hippocampus, cerebellum, bulbus olfactorius and habenula we observed that mRNA levels did not reflect protein levels, indicating that the protein is located far distantly from the cell body. We also compared the distribution of these 12 subunit mRNAs and proteins with that reported in the rat brain. Although in general there is a considerable correspondence in the distribution between mouse and rat brains, several species-specific differences were observed.

Highlights

► The distribution of GABAA receptor subunits is highly heterogeneous. ► The distribution of mRNAs corresponds to that of proteins. ► The distribution in the mouse correlates largely to that in rats although there are distinct differences.

Abbreviations used in the text

CA
cornu ammonis
IHC
immunohistochemistry
ISH
in situ hybridization
TBS
Tris–HCl-buffered saline

Abbreviations used in Figure legends

BLA
basolateral amygdala
CEA
central amygdala
DG
dentate gyrus
DLG
dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus
DS
dorsal subiculum
Ent
entorhinal cortex
EP
entopeduncular nucleus
EPl
external plexiform layer
Gl
glomerular layer bulbus olfactorius
GP
globus pallidus
gr
granule cell layer bulbus olfactorius
Gr
granule cell layer cerebellum
h
hilus
Hb
habenula
I
intercalated nucleus
LD
laterodorsal thalamic nucleus
MA
medial amygdaloid nucleus
Mi
mitral cell layer bulbus olfactorius
ml
molecular layer of dentate gyrus
mRNA
messenger ribonucleic acid
Mol
molecular layer cerebellum
PaS
parasubiculum
PG
pregeniculate nucleus
PrS
presubiculum
PV
paraventricular thalamic nucleus
Rt
reticular thalamic nucleus
so
stratum oriens
sr
stratum radiatum
St
striatum
STT
spinal trigeminal tract
VPL
ventral posterolateral thalamic nucleus
VPM
ventral posteromedial thalamic nucleus
VS
ventral subiculum

Key words

GABAA receptor subunits
mouse brain
in situ hybridization
immunohistochemistry

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