GABAA, not GABAB, receptor shows subunit- and spatial-specific alterations in the hippocampus of seizure prone gerbils.
In the present study, we investigated site-specific expressions of GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptor subunits in the seizure-sensitive (SS) and seizure-resistant (SR) gerbil hippocampus to elucidate the function of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor in seizure activity in this animal. There were no differences of the immunoreactivities of GABA(B) receptor and some GABA(A) receptor subunits (alpha3, alpha4, pan beta and delta) in the hippocampus between SR and SS gerbils. The alpha1 subunit expression was mainly detected in interneurons of stratum radiatum and hilar region of dentate gyrus in the SR gerbil. However, in SS gerbil, interneurons were nearly devoid of alpha1 subunit immunoreactivity and mainly detected in the molecular layer of dentate gyrus. In SR gerbil, alpha2 subunit immunoreactivity was detected in Ammon's horn, particularly in the CA2 region. In SS gerbil, granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus in SS gerbil showed strong alpha2 subunit immunoreactivity. The distribution of alpha5 and gamma2 subunit immunoreactivity in the hippocampus was similarly detected in SR and SS gerbil. However, alpha5 immunodensity of SR gerbil was slightly lower than that of SS gerbil in CA1 region and was slightly strong than that of SS gerbil in subiculum. These differences in distribution of GABA(A) receptor, not GABA(B) receptor, in the SR and SS gerbil hippocampus may indicate that abnormal hyperactive neuronal discharges are occurred in SS gerbil, which presumably result in spontaneous and repetitive seizure activity in this animal.
Hwang
In Koo
IK
Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Hallym University, Kangwon-Do, Chunchon 200-702, South Korea.
Park
Seung-Kook
SK
An
Sung-Jin
SJ
Yoo
Ki-Yeon
KY
Kim
Duk-Soo
DS
Jung
Ju-Young
JY
Won
Moo Ho
MH
Choi
Soo-Young
SY
Kwon
Oh-Shin
OS
Kang
Tae-Cheon
TC
D000818:Animals; D005849:Gerbillinae; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D012640:Seizures / Q000378:metabolism*
D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B