DIVERSITY OF GLUTAMATE RECEPTORS IN NEOCORTICAL NEURONS - IMPLICATIONS FOR SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY

The biochemical and functional characteristics of the AMPA subtype of the glutamate receptors expressed by pyramidal and non-pyramidal neuro ns of the neocortex have been studied in acute slices by means of sing le-cell RT-PCR and fast applications of glutamate on outside-out patch es. Our results suggest that the predominant expression of the flop sp lice variants of the GluR1-4 AMPA subunits contributes to the faster d esensitization of these receptors in non-pyramidal neurons compared to pyramidal cells where flip variants of GluR1-4 are dominant. Alternat ive splicing of AMPA receptors may therefore play an important role in regulating synaptic function in a cell-type specific manner.