IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL LOCALIZATION OF THE ALPHA(6) SUBUNIT OF THE GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID(A) RECEPTOR IN THE RAT NERVOUS-SYSTEM

The localization in the rat central nervous system and retina of the a lpha(6) subunit peptide of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA(A)) recep tor has been studied by light microscopy immunocytochemistry with a sp ecific anti-alpha(6) antibody. The alpha(6) subunit was present in the granule cells of the cerebellum, the granule cells of the dorsal coch lear nucleus, axons of the olfactory nerve including the glomerular en dings, layer II of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, and in the reti nal synaptic layers, particularly the inner plexiform layer. Thus, con trary to the general belief, the alpha(6) subunit is not exclusively l ocalized in the granule cells of the cerebellum. It is also expressed in some sensory neurons and other neurons involved in the initial proc essing of sensory information. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.