ORGANIZATION AND QUANTITATIVE-ANALYSIS OF KAINATE RECEPTOR SUBUNIT GLUR5-7 IMMUNOREACTIVITY IN MONKEY HIPPOCAMPUS

A monoclonal antibody specific for GluR5-7 (mAb-4F5) has been used to characterize the distribution of kainate class glutamate receptor subu nits in monkey hippocampus. Immunolabeled neurons were present in all subfields of the hippocampus as well as the dentate gyrus and subiculu m. Quantitative immunofluorescence analysis by confocal microscopy dem onstrated differential levels of immunoreactivity such that the highes t intensities were in neurons within CA1 and subiculum as compared wit h those within CA3 or dentate gyrus. The regional differences in level s of subunit immunoreactivity correlate with the relative vulnerabilit y of hippocampal neurons in several neurodegenerative disorders.