R. Ambalavanar et al., GLUTAMATE-RECEPTOR SUBUNITS IN THE NUCLEUS OF THE TRACTUS-SOLITARIUS AND OTHER REGIONS OF THE MEDULLA-OBLONGATA IN THE CAT, Journal of comparative neurology, 402(1), 1998, pp. 75-92
The nucleus of the tractus solitarius (NTS) is a primary termination z
one for laryngeal, gustatory, cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointes
tinal, and other visceral afferents. Although considerable information
is available on the neurochemical aspects of the NTS in general, very
little is known about glutamate receptors that may underlie many of t
he different functions mediated by the NTS. In addition, most previous
glutamate receptor distribution studies were performed in the rat, wh
ereas the cat, the subject of many physiological experiments involving
the NTS, has received little attention. In the present study, the imm
unohistochemical distribution of pha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxaz
olepropionate (AMPA)-selective glutamate receptor subunits (GluR1, Glu
R2/3, GluR4) and the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor subunit NR1
in the cat caudal brainstem was investigated by using subunit-specific
antibodies. In the NTS, statistically significant differences were se
en in the distribution of each antibody. Highest labeling was seen for
GluR2/3 in most subnuclei, whereas GluR1-immunoreactive neurons were
found more frequently than were NR1- or GluR4-immunoreactive neurons.
GluR1 immunolabeling was particularly high in the interstitial subnucl
eus, whereas GluR2/3 immunolabeling was particularly high in the inter
mediate subnucleus. Qualitatively, labeling for GluR4 was most common
in glia. The present results indicate that glutamate receptors show di
fferent subunit distributions in the subnuclei of the NTS and in other
adjacent structures. This finding suggests that neurons in these stru
ctures are designed to respond differently to excitatory input. J. Com
p. Neurol. 402.75-92, 1998. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.dagger.