title: Differential subcellular distribution of the alpha 6 subunit versus the alpha 1 and beta 2/3 subunits of the GABAA/benzodiazepine receptor complex in granule cells of the cerebellar cortex.
abstract: The distribution of the alpha 6 subunit of the GABAA receptor has been established in rat cerebellum and compared to the distribution of the alpha 1 (cat) and the beta 2/3 (rat, cat) subunits, using immunocytochemistry. The synapses established by Golgi cell terminals on the dendrites of granule cells were immunoreactive for the alpha 6, alpha 1 and beta 2/3 subunits in virtually all glomeruli, indicating that two variants (alpha 1 and alpha 6) of the same subunit are co-localized at the same synapses. The somatic membranes of the granule cells, which receive no synapses, were immunopositive for the alpha 1 and beta 2/3 subunits, but not for the alpha 6 subunit. Thus, the alpha 1 and the beta 2/3 subunits are located at both synaptic and extrasynaptic sites, but the alpha 6 subunit is detectable only at synaptic sites.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research Council, Oxford University, U.K.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baude
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sequier
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: McKernan
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Olivier
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Somogyi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002525:Cerebellar Cortex / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013569:Synapses / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D011963:Receptors, GABA-A