Postnatal development of [3H]flunitrazepam and [3H]strychnine binding sites in rat spinal cord localized by quantitative autoradiography.
The development of inhibitory receptors in rat spinal cord was investigated by autoradiography using [3H]flunitrazepam as a ligand for benzodiazepine receptors and [3H]strychnine as a ligand for glycine receptors. The development of benzodiazepine receptors follows a similar pattern at all levels of the spinal cord. The density of [3H]flunitrazepam binding sites is already high at birth, increases 2-fold by days 3-7 and thereafter declines to levels already present at birth. In contrast, [3H]strychnine binding sites are weakly expressed at birth and increase up to 7-fold between days 4 and 21. A craniocaudal gradient in the development of glycine receptors is not apparent. However, maturation of [3H]strychnine binding in the ventral horn precedes that in the dorsal horn for 3-4 days. In summary, the developmental expression of these two inhibitory receptors in the spinal cord appears to be regulated differently.
Brüning
G
G
Department of Anatomy, Free University of Berlin, F.R.G.
Bauer
R
R
Baumgarten
H G
HG
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D005445:Flunitrazepam / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism*; D018009:Receptors, Glycine; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000378:metabolism*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D013331:Strychnine / Q000378:metabolism*
D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D018009:Receptors, Glycine; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D005445:Flunitrazepam; D013331:Strychnine