Autoradiographic localization of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the rat cerebellum.
[3H]Muscimol was used in the light microscopic autoradiographic localization of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the rat cerebellum. The binding of [3H]-muscimol to the slide-mounted tissue sections had all of the characteristics associated with a GABA receptor. It was saturable with appropriate kinetic constants and was blocked only by other GABAergic drugs. Autoradiographic studies revealed a very high density of receptors over the granule cell layer, a low level over the molecular layer, and negligible receptor binding over white matter. This suggested a high localization of GABA receptors to granule cells, which is supported by other neurochemical studies. The autoradiographic procedure used here should be a useful method in further studies of receptors requiring high sensitivity and increased anatomical resolution.
D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000378:metabolism*; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D009118:Muscimol / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000378:metabolism*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D009118:Muscimol; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid