Differential localization of γ-aminobutyric acid type a and glycine receptor subunits and gephyrin in the human pons, medulla oblongata and uppermost cervical segment of the spinal cord: an immunohistochemical study

Waldvogel, H. J., Baer, K., Eady, E., Allen, K. L., Gilbert, R. T., Mohler, H., Rees, Mark I., Nicholson, L. F. B. and Faull, R.L.M. 2010. Differential localization of γ-aminobutyric acid type a and glycine receptor subunits and gephyrin in the human pons, medulla oblongata and uppermost cervical segment of the spinal cord: an immunohistochemical study. The Journal of Comparative Neurology 518 (3) , pp. 305-328. 10.1002/cne.22212

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Abstract

Gephyrin is a multifunctional protein responsible for the clustering of glycine receptors (GlyR) and -aminobutyric acid type A receptors (GABAAR). GlyR and GABAAR are heteropentameric chloride ion channels that facilitate fast-response, inhibitory neurotransmission in the mammalian brain and spinal cord. We investigated the immunohistochemical distribution of gephyrin and the major GABAAR and GlyR subunits in the human light microscopically in the rostral and caudal one-thirds of the pons, in the middle and caudal one-thirds of the medulla oblongata, and in the first cervical segment of the spinal cord. The results demonstrate a widespread pattern of immunoreactivity for GlyR and GABAAR subunits throughout these regions, including the spinal trigeminal nucleus, abducens nucleus, facial nucleus, pontine reticular formation, dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus nerve, hypoglossal nucleus, lateral cuneate nucleus, and nucleus of the solitary tract. The GABAAR 1 and GlyR 1 and β subunits show high levels of immunoreactivity in these nuclei. The GABAAR subunits 2, 3, β2,3, and 2 present weaker levels of immunoreactivity. Exceptions are intense levels of GABAAR 2 subunit immunoreactivity in the inferior olivary complex and high levels of GABAAR 3 subunit immunoreactivity in the locus coeruleus and raphe nuclei. Gephyrin immunoreactivity is highest in the first segment of the cervical spinal cord and hypoglossal nucleus. Our results suggest that a variety of different inhibitory receptor subtypes is responsible for inhibitory functions in the human brainstem and cervical spinal cord and that gephyrin functions as a clustering molecule for major subtypes of these inhibitory neurotransmitter receptors.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Human brain ; Brainstem ; Gephyrin ; Glycine receptor ; GABAA receptor ; Immunohistochemistry
Publisher:	Wiley-Blackwell
ISSN:	0021-9967
Last Modified:	05 Jul 2013 21:45
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/22300

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