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Volume 16, Number 11, Issue of June 1, 1996 pp. 3571-3589
Copyright ©1996 Society for Neuroscience

Nucleus-Specific Expression of GABAA Receptor Subunit mRNAs in Monkey Thalamus

M. M. Huntsman, M. G. Leggio, and E. G. Jones

Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, California 92717

ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS
RESULTS
DISCUSSION
FOOTNOTES
REFERENCES


ABSTRACT

Expression of 10 GABAA receptor subunit genes was examined in monkey thalamus by in situ hybridization using cRNA probes specific for alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, alpha 5, beta 1, beta 2, beta 3, gamma 1, and gamma 2 subunit mRNAs. These displayed unique hybridization patterns with significant differences from rodents. alpha 1, beta 2, and gamma 2 transcripts were expressed at high levels in all dorsal thalamic nuclei, but expression was significantly higher in sensory relay nuclei---especially the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. Other transcripts showed nucleus-specific differences in levels of expression and in the range expressed. alpha 5 and alpha 4 subunit transcripts were expressed in all nuclei except the intralaminar nuclei. Levels of alpha 2, alpha 3, beta 1, beta 3, and gamma 1 expression were very low, except in intralaminar nuclei. In the reticular nucleus, most subunit transcripts were not expressed, and only gamma 2 transcripts were consistently detected at modest levels. Thalamic GABAA receptors may be assembled from nucleus-specific groupings of subunit polypeptides.

Key words: in situ hybridization; alpha , beta , and gamma  subunits; inhibition; chromosomes; sensory nuclei; intralaminar nuclei


INTRODUCTION

GABAergic inhibition in the mammalian thalamus affects rates and temporal patterns of discharge of relay neurons (Curtis et al., 1972; Duggan and McLennan, 1971; Curtis and Têbêcis, 1972; Hicks et al., 1986), receptive field properties (Sillito and Kemp, 1983; Pape and Eysel, 1986; Eysel et al., 1987; Sillito, 1992), and state-dependent rhythmic oscillations of the thalamic network (Steriade et al., 1991; Warren et al., 1994; Bal et al., 1995).

Thalamic inhibition is mediated by GABAergic neurons located in the reticular nucleus and by GABAergic intrinsic interneurons (Houser et al., 1980; Montero and Scott, 1981; Oertel et al., 1983; Spreafico et al., 1983; Montero and Singer, 1985; Yen et al., 1985; DeBiasi et al., 1986; Ohara et al., 1989; Cucchiaro et al., 1991; Ralston, 1991; Ohara and Lieberman, 1993; Liu et al., 1995). In cats and monkeys, interneurons constitute ~25% of dorsal thalamic neurons (LeVay and Ferster, 1979; Weber and Kalil, 1983; Fitzpatrick et al., 1984; Montero and Zempel, 1985, 1986; Rinvik et al., 1987; Benson et al., 1991b; Hendry, 1991; Hunt et al., 1991).

The GABAA receptor, a fast-acting, bicuculline-sensitive chloride channel is a heteropentameric complex composed of combinations of five or fewer polypeptide subunits (Macdonald and Olsen, 1994). The receptor has binding sites for benzodiazepines, barbiturates, and neurosteroids, all of which modify GABA-mediated chloride currents (DeLorey and Olsen, 1992). At least 15 genes encode GABAA receptor subunits that share a high degree of sequence identity, classified as alpha , beta , gamma , delta , and rho  classes with subclass variants (alpha 1-6; beta 1-3, gamma 1-3, delta , rho 1,2). alpha 1, beta 2, and gamma 2 subunits are expressed at high levels in most brain regions (Benke et al., 1991; Fritschy et al., 1992; Benke et al., 1994; Fritschy and Möhler, 1995) of rodents (Gambarana et al., 1991; Persohn et al., 1992; Wisden et al., 1992) and monkeys (Huntsman et al., 1994, 1995a,b). GABAA receptors may be assembled from specific combinations of individual subunits (Lüddens and Wisden, 1991; Angelotti et al., 1993; Angelotti and Macdonald, 1993; Backus et al., 1993; Perez-Velazquez and Angelides, 1993), but combinations of alpha , beta , and gamma  subunits are necessary to produce fully functional GABAA receptors (Pritchett et al., 1989a; Siegel et al., 1990; Verdoorn et al., 1990; Angelotti and Macdonald, 1993).

Previous radioligand binding studies of GABAA receptor localization in the thalamus were confined to rats (Palacios et al., 1981; Unnerstall et al., 1981; Bowery et al., 1987; Olsen et al., 1990; Bureau and Olsen, 1993) in which intrinsic interneurons are largely absent (for review, see Benson et al., 1992), and to isolated nuclei in other species (Shaw and Cynader, 1986; Kultas-Ilinsky et al., 1988). Subunit-specific protein and mRNA expression has been briefly described in rat thalamus (Wisden et al., 1992; Fritschy and Möhler, 1995) but only in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of monkeys (Huntsman et al., 1995a).

Preliminary reports of the present study have appeared elsewhere (Huntsman and Jones, 1993, 1995).

Abbreviations

AM anteromedial nucleus of the thalamus
AV anteroventral nucleus of the thalamus
CeM central medial nucleus of the thalamus
CL central lateral nucleus of the thalamus
CM centre médian nucleus of the thalamus
CN caudate nucleus
Gpi globus pallidus, internal segment
H habenular nuclei
Hbm medial habenular nucleus
L limitans nucleus of the thalamus
LD lateral dorsal nucleus of the thalamus
LGd dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus
LGmc dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus, magnocellular layers
LGpc dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus, parvocellular layers
LP lateral posterior nucleus of the thalamus
MD mediodorsal nucleus of the thalamus
MG medial geniculate nucleus of the thalamus
MGd medial geniculate nucleus, dorsal
MGv medial geniculate nucleus, ventral
Pc paracentral nucleus
Pf parafascicular nucleus of the thalamus
Pla anterior pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus
Pli inferior pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus
Pll lateral pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus
Plm medial pulvinar nucleus of the thalamus
Po posterior nucleus of the thalamus
Prg pregeniculate nucleus
PT pretectum
Pv paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus
R reticular nucleus of the thalamus
Rh rhomboid nucleus of the thalamus
Sb subthalamic nucleus
SG suprageniculate nucleus of the thalamus
SNr substantia nigra, pars reticulata
VA ventral anterior nucleus of the thalamus
VL ventral lateral nucleus
VLa anterior ventral lateral nucleus of the thalamus
VLp posterior ventral lateral nucleus of the thalamus
VMb basal ventral medial nucleus of the thalamus
VPI ventral posterior inferior nucleus of the thalamus
VPL ventral posterior lateral nucleus of the thalamus
VPM ventral posterior medial nucleus of the thalamus
ZI zona incerta

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Generation of cRNA probes. Complementary RNA (cRNA) probes were prepared from monkey-specific cDNAs for localization of the alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, alpha 5, beta 1, beta 2, beta 3, gamma 1, and gamma 2 GABAA receptor subunit mRNAs and for 67 kDa glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) mRNA. These include the majority of the GABAA receptor subunits that are expressed in the CNS. The methods used to subclone, purify, and characterize the cDNAs, including Northern blot analysis, were identical to those used in a previous study (Huntsman et al., 1994). Synthetic oligonucleotide primers were designed to flank a heterogeneous domain of each chosen GABAA receptor subunit DNA that was then amplified against a monkey cDNA template using the PCR. The cDNA was sequenced and inserted into the pBS II cloning vector (Stratagene, La Jolla, CA). The monkey-specific cDNA for GAD encodes the 67 kDa protein product (GAD67) and was generated and fully characterized in a previous study (Benson et al., 1991a).

Three additional monkey-specific cDNA subclones with sequences corresponding to the intracellular cytoplasmic loops of alpha 3, beta 3, and gamma 1 GABAA receptor subunit polypeptides were isolated and characterized using the same methods used to isolate alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 4, alpha 5, beta 1, beta 2, and gamma 2 cDNAs in the previous study (Huntsman et al., 1994). The cDNAs were then used as templates for the generation of riboprobes for in situ hybridization histochemistry as described previously (Benson et al., 1994; Huntsman et al., 1994, 1995a,b).

All the monkey-specific subclones used were similar in length (341-497 bp) and in G/C content and shared a high degree of sequence identity with previously cloned cDNAs of human (where available) and rat sequences, as determined by Genbank searches. Radiolabeled RNA probes for in situ hybridization histochemistry were generated by in vitro transcription of the linearized, subcloned cDNAs in the presence of [alpha -33P]UTP, using either T3 or T7 RNA polymerase for the production of antisense and sense strands.

The riboprobes had similar specific activities. Northern blot analysis (Huntsman et al., 1994) using the same cDNA templates identified transcripts with molecular weights that were the same as those reported in other studies (Garrett et al., 1988; Lolait et al., 1989; Ymer et al., 1989a,b; Khrestchatisky et al., 1989, 1991; Malherbe et al., 1990). Further verification of probe specificity is seen in the distinct patterns of expression of the alpha  subunit variants. The riboprobes that identified the alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, and alpha 5 subclass variants gave very distinctive and sometimes nonoverlapping patterns of labeling in the dorsal thalamus (e.g., alpha 2 and alpha 4) even though they share >70% sequence identity in pairwise residue comparisons (Seeburg et al., 1990).

In situ hybridization histochemistry. The brains of four monkeys were used: one Macaca fuscata, one Macaca fascicularis, and two Macaca mulatta. All animals were given an overdose of Nembutal and perfused through the ascending aorta with 0.9% saline followed by 4% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4. Brains were blocked and post-fixed overnight in 4% paraformaldehyde and then infiltrated with 30% sucrose in 4% paraformaldehyde. The blocks were frozen in dry ice and those containing the diencephalon were cut at 25 µm on a sliding microtome. Sets of eleven sections were collected in cold, sterile 4% paraformaldehyde for in situ hybridization histochemistry; the two succeeding sections were collected in cold phosphate buffer for Nissl and cytochrome oxidase (CO) (Wong-Riley, 1979) staining. Ten of each set of 11 sections collected in paraformaldehyde were hybridized with radiolabeled antisense cRNA probes for the GABAA receptor subunit mRNAs. The remaining section of each set was used for repeat runs, if necessary, for hybridization with the GAD67 riboprobe, or for hybridization with sense control riboprobes.

Free-floating sections were prepared for in situ hybridization by washing in 0.1 M glycine in 0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, followed by incubation in 1 mg/ml of proteinase K in 0.1 M Tris-HCl buffer, pH 8.0, containing 0.05 M EDTA for 30 min at 37°C; they were then washed in 0.25% acetic anhydride in 0.1 M triethanolamine, pH 8.0, and in 2× SSC. Sections were next incubated in the hybridization solution containing 50% formamide, 10% dextran sulfate, 0.7% Ficoll, 0.7% polyvinyl pyrolidone, 0.5 mg/ml yeast tRNA, 0.33 mg/ml denatured herring sperm DNA, and 20 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) for 1 hr at 60°C, then transferred to fresh hybridization solution containing an additional 20 mM DTT and 1 × 106 cpm/1 ml of the 33P-radiolabeled sense or antisense riboprobe.

After at least 20 hr of hybridization at 60°C, sections were washed in 4× SSC at 60°C, digested with 20 mg/ml ribonuclease A, pH 8.0, for 30 min at 45°C, and washed through descending concentrations of SSC with 5 mM DTT to a final stringency of 0.1× SSC at 60°C for 1 hr. Sections were mounted on gelatin-coated slides, dried, and exposed to Amersham beta -max film for 8 d. After development of the film, the sections were lipid-extracted in chloroform, dipped in Kodak NTB2 emulsion (diluted 1:1), exposed for 8 d at 4°C, developed in Kodak D-19, fixed, and counterstained with cresyl violet.

Quantitative analysis. Film autoradiograms of hybridized sections were quantified by taking optical density readings using a microcomputer imaging device (MCID/M4; Imaging Research, St. Catherine's, Ontario, Canada). Quantitative sampling was obtained by calibrating the optical system to a set of radioactive standards before reading density values. The imaging system functions by sampling mean gray-level values of all the pixels within a defined sampling area and converts them to values of concentration termed integrated optical density (IOD) values. The IOD value is converted to units of radioactivity by taking readings from 14C reference standards (Amersham) exposed on the same sheet of film as the sampled sections and converting the values from these standards to units of radioactivity (nCi/gm) within the sampled area. Multiple samples were taken from individual thalamic nuclei using a sampling tool adjusted to fit within the borders of the nucleus, as confirmed from the adjacent Nissl- and CO-stained sections (Fig. 1A). Each unit sampling was tracked and recorded on the digitized image to ensure that the samples taken within a single thalamic nucleus did not overlap. The threshold level for reporting the presence of hybridization signal was set at 50 nCi/gm, because at this level nuclear borders could not be discerned. Sections hybridized with sense strand subunit riboprobes showed no labeling above background levels (Fig. 1B). Nuclear delineations are those of Jones (1985). The nuclear distribution patterns were compared with the patterns of expression of GAD67, the details of which were described by Benson et al. (1991b).


Fig. 1. A, Digital scan of a section hybridized with a cRNA probe specific for alpha 1 subunit mRNA. Each sampled area is represented by a box within the borders of the relevant nucleus, which were confirmed from an adjacent Nissl-stained section. B, Section hybridized with sense-strand subunit riboprobe for alpha 1 subunit transcripts showed no labeling above background levels. Scale bar, 2 mm. C, Dark-field photomicrograph from an emulsion-dipped autoradiograph showing gamma 2 probe hybridization in the reticular nucleus (R) and lateral posterior nucleus (LP). Scale bar, 100 µm. D, Bright-field photomicrograph showing labeling of large and small cells in the mediodorsal nucleus with the gamma 2 riboprobe; nuclei of neuroglial cells are not labeled. Scale bar, 10 µm.
[View Larger Version of this Image (85K GIF file)]


RESULTS

Distribution of subunit mRNAs

The dorsal thalamus The 10 GABAA receptor subunit mRNAs examined in this study (alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, alpha 5, beta 1, beta 2, beta 3, gamma 1, and gamma 2) had a wide range of expression patterns in terms of both density and distribution throughout the dorsal thalamus. The distribution of most of the subunit mRNAs was overlapping. However, when examined in detail, each transcript displayed a characteristic pattern that differed from that of the other subunit mRNAs. The intensity of hybridization, reflecting different levels of expression, specifically varied for each subunit mRNA. In most dorsal thalamic nuclei, the alpha 1, beta 2, and gamma 2 subunit transcripts were expressed at higher levels than the alpha 5 transcript, which was in turn expressed at higher levels than the alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, beta 1, beta 3, and gamma 1 transcripts. Among each of the nuclei there were individual differences, as described in detail below. Some nuclei expressed a wide variety of subunit transcripts, whereas other nuclei expressed a more limited range. In certain groups of nuclei, there was a complementarity of expression in the sense that expression of one set of transcripts was associated with nonexpression of another set. These differences indicate nucleus-specific patterns of gene expression for each of the subunits. The distribution and density of labeling for individual transcripts is summarized in Table 1. The following section deals with some of the unique features of the localization patterns.

Table 1. GABAA receptor mRNAs in monkey thalamus



Optical density readings were obtained from film autoradiograms in individual nuclei and averaged across serial sections from multiple runs of in situ hybridization histochemistry. Hybridization levels of 33P-labeled cRNA probes were converted from density units to units of radioactivity using 14C standards exposed on the same sheet of film (see Materials and Methods). In some cases, values represent individual nuclei, and for others they represent average values in groups of nuclei. Hybridization levels are schematically illustrated in ascending order of intensity ranging from levels <100 nCi/gm to levels >600 nCi/gm. Note the high levels of hybridization for the alpha 1, beta 2, and gamma 2 cRNA probes, especially in the lateral geniculate and other sensory relay nuclei.

Cellular localization of mRNAs

Cell labeling with radioactive riboprobes consisted of clusters of silver grains overlying the somata of individual cells. Specific labeling consisted of compact accumulations of grain clusters over cell somata, yielding a clear definition of individually labeled cells, contrasting with the light scattering of silver grains associated with background labeling (Fig. 1C,D). The sizes of the grain clusters could therefore be used as a guide to the relative sizes of the cell bodies, based on known sizes of the major population of cells within particular thalamic nuclei (Benson et al., 1991b). An example of hybridization of GABAA receptor riboprobes specific for the gamma 2 subunit in the reticular nucleus and neighboring lateral posterior nucleus (Fig. 1C) shows grain accumulations over Nissl-stained cell bodies in which the grain clusters in the lateral posterior nucleus range in size from small (10-15 µm) to large (20-25 µm). This was typical of all dorsal thalamic nuclei (Fig. 1D). It is therefore assumed that both relay cells and interneurons, which are consistently smaller, were labeled with the subunit riboprobes. Those in the reticular nucleus were all large, reflecting the unimodal size range of cells in this nucleus. Qualitatively, the number of labeled neurons detectable with the different riboprobes varied. In general, in nuclei showing a high density of labeling for a particular subunit mRNA, most of the neurons were labeled. In those showing weak labeling for a particular subunit mRNA, few individually labeled cells could be detected. All riboprobes labeled only neurons, except for the alpha 4, beta 1, and gamma 1 riboprobes in which labeling of significant numbers of neuroglial cells could also be detected, leading to darkening of the internal capsule in some of the autoradiograms (data not shown).

Nuclear localization of mRNAs

In what follows, a nucleus is said to be labeled for subunit transcripts if integrated optical density measurements translated to more than the 50 nCi/gm threshold level. The anterior nuclear complex The AM, AV, and AD nuclei expressed all the subunit mRNAs with varying degrees of intensity (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5). The most abundant mRNAs in order of intensity were beta 2, alpha 5, alpha 1, alpha 3, and gamma 2 (Figs. 2E,A,C,H, 3B). In these nuclei, alpha 5 transcripts reached higher levels of hybridization than in any other nuclear group in the dorsal thalamus. Modest levels were observed for the beta 3 and beta 1 mRNAs (Fig. 3C,A) with still lower levels observed for alpha 4, alpha 2, and gamma 1 mRNAs (Fig. 2D,B,G).
Fig. 2. Photomicrographs from film autoradiograms of adjacent sections through anterior levels of the thalamus hybridized with the alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, alpha 5, gamma 1, and gamma 2 GABAA receptor subunit-specific cRNA probes (A-E, G, H), a GAD67 cRNA probe (F), and a photomicrograph of an adjacent Nissl-stained section (I). These show the patterns of distribution of 7 of the 10 subunit-specific mRNAs in relation to each nucleus. All autoradiograms were exposed for the same time. Scale bar, 2 mm.
[View Larger Version of this Image (132K GIF file)]


Fig. 3. Photomicrographs from film autoradiograms of sections adjacent to those in Figure 2 through anterior levels of the thalamus, hybridized with beta 1, beta 2, and beta 3 GABAA receptor subunit-specific cRNA probes (A-C). Scale bar, 2 mm.
[View Larger Version of this Image (66K GIF file)]


Fig. 4. Photomicrographs from film autoradiograms of adjacent sections through levels of the thalamus posterior to those represented in Figures 2 and 3. Sections were hybridized with the alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, alpha 5, gamma 1, and gamma 2 GABAA receptor subunit-specific cRNA probes (A-E, G, H) or with a GAD67 riboprobe (F). All subunit mRNA distribution patterns can be compared with an adjacent Nissl-stained section (I). Note increased levels of gamma 2 transcripts in VLa (H). Scale bar, 2 mm.
[View Larger Version of this Image (141K GIF file)]


Fig. 5. Photomicrographs from film autoradiograms of sections adjacent to those shown in Figure 4. Adjacent sections were hybridized with beta 1, beta 2, and beta 3 (A-C) subunit-specific cRNA probes. Scale bar, 2 mm.
[View Larger Version of this Image (66K GIF file)]

The ventral group of nuclei Moderate levels of expression were evident for the alpha 1, beta 2, and gamma 2 mRNAs in the VA nucleus (Figs. 2A,H, 3B, 4A,H, 5B), with slightly lower levels for alpha 5 mRNAs (Figs. 2F, 3F) and reduced levels for the other subunit mRNAs. The VL nucleus had a similar distribution pattern with noticeably increased levels of gamma 2 subunit transcripts in the VLa (see Fig. 5H). In the ventral posterior nucleus, the alpha 1, beta 2, gamma 2, and alpha 5 subunit transcripts were the most prominent subunit mRNAs expressed (see Figs. 6A,E,H, 7B, 8A,E,H, 9B). alpha 3 and alpha 4 transcripts were also labeled but with lower intensity (see Figs. 6C,D, 8C,D), and even lower levels of hybridization were observed for alpha 2, beta 1, beta 3, and gamma 1 mRNAs (see Figs. 6B,G, 7A,C, 8B,G, 9A,C). In the VPL and VPM nuclei, 8 of the 10 subunit mRNAs showed increased levels in VPM compared with VPL, but alpha 4 and gamma 2 levels did not (see Figs. 6D,H). The VPI nucleus typically had moderate levels of hybridization with noticeable decreases for alpha 1 and beta 2 in relation to neighboring VPL and VPM (see Figs. 6A, 7B). The VMb nucleus had the highest expression levels of the ventral group for almost all of the subunits examined, exceeding those for both VPM and VPL, with the exception of the alpha 1 subunit transcripts, the levels of which decreased (see Fig. 6A).


Fig. 6. Photomicrographs from film autoradiograms of adjacent sections through middle levels of the thalamus. Each section was hybridized with the alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, alpha 5, gamma 1, and gamma 2 GABAA receptor subunit-specific cRNA probes (A-E, G, H) or with a GAD67 riboprobe (F). mRNA distribution patterns can be compared with an adjacent Nissl-stained section (I). Note intensity of alpha 1 transcript levels in LGd and in the ventral nuclear group (A) in addition to the restricted hybridization of alpha 3 transcripts in the magnocellular layers of the LGd, indicated by an arrow (C). Scale bar, 2 mm.
[View Larger Version of this Image (139K GIF file)]


Fig. 7. Photomicrographs from film autoradiograms of sections adjacent to those in Figure 6, hybridized with beta 1, beta 2, and beta 3 (A-C) GABAA receptor subunit-specific cRNA probes. Scale bar, 2 mm.
[View Larger Version of this Image (71K GIF file)]


Fig. 8. Photomicrographs from film autoradiograms of adjacent sections through posterior levels of the thalamus. Each section was hybridized with the alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, alpha 5, gamma 1, and gamma 2 GABAA receptor subunit-specific cRNA riboprobes (A-E, G, H) or with a GAD67 riboprobe (F). Patterns can be compared with an adjacent Nissl-stained section (I). Scale bar, 2 mm.
[View Larger Version of this Image (139K GIF file)]


Fig. 9. Photomicrographs from film autoradiograms of sections adjacent to those in Figure 8 hybridized with beta 1, beta 2, and beta 3 (A-C) GABAA receptor subunit-specific cRNA probes. Scale bar, 2 mm.
[View Larger Version of this Image (72K GIF file)]

The MD nucleus The beta 2, gamma 2, alpha 5, alpha 3, and alpha 1 mRNAs were present in the mediodorsal nucleus at moderate levels, with slightly lower levels observed for gamma 1, alpha 4, beta 3, beta 1, and alpha 2 subunit mRNAs (Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9). No obvious subnuclear differences could be detected. The lateral group of nuclei The LD nucleus expressed high levels of most subunit transcripts, especially beta 2, alpha 1, alpha 5, and gamma 2 (see Figs. 6A,E,H, 7B, 8A,E,H, 9B), along with moderately high levels of alpha 3, beta 1, and gamma 1 (see Figs. 6C,G, 7A, 8C,G, 9A) but weaker levels of alpha 2, alpha 4, and beta 3 mRNAs (see Figs. 6B,D, 7C, 8B,D, 9C). The LP nucleus similarly displayed high hybridization levels of beta 2, alpha 1, alpha 5, and gamma 2 mRNAs (see Figs. 8A,E,H, 9B, 10A,E,H, 11B) that approached those observed in the LGd nucleus. Overall, LP maintained high levels of the remaining subunit transcripts, except for alpha 2, alpha 3, beta 1, and beta 3 mRNAs (see Figs. 8B,C, 9A,C, 10B,C, 11A,C). In the nuclei of the pulvinar, the Pla, Pli, Plm, and Pll nuclei showed a heterogeneous distribution of receptor subunit transcripts in which alpha 1 clearly dominated, reaching high levels in Pli, Pll, and Plm (see Fig. 10A), although levels were still lower than in the adjacent lateral geniculate and lateral posterior nuclei. High levels of alpha 5, gamma 2, and beta 2 transcripts were also observed in Pli and Plm (see Figs. 10E,H, 11A), along with moderate levels of alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, beta 1, beta 3, and gamma 1 mRNAs, primarily in Pli and Plm, in which levels never dipped below the weakly positive range (see Figs. 10B,C,D,G, 11A,C). Overall, Pla had the lowest transcript levels for all subunits examined in the pulvinar, except for alpha 3 and gamma 1, whose levels in Pll were slightly less (see Figs. 9C,G, 10C,G).


Fig. 10. Photomicrographs from film autoradiograms of adjacent sections through the posterior pole of the thalamus, including all subdivisions of the pulvinar except Pla. Sections were hybridized with the alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 4, alpha 5, gamma 1, and gamma 2 GABAA receptor subunit-specific cRNA riboprobes (A-E, G, H) or with a GAD67 riboprobe (F). Note increased levels in LP for the alpha 1 (A) and gamma 2 (H) transcripts. Patterns can be compared with an adjacent Nissl-stained section (I). Scale bar, 2 mm.
[View Larger Version of this Image (115K GIF file)]


Fig. 11. Photomicrographs from film autoradiograms of sections adjacent to those shown in Figure 10 and hybridized with beta 1, beta 2, and beta 3 (A-C) GABAA receptor subunit-specific riboprobes. Scale bar, 2 mm.
[View Larger Version of this Image (63K GIF file)]

The intralaminar nuclei The intralaminar nuclei showed moderate-to-high levels of almost all of the receptor subunit transcripts examined. The moderate levels of hybridization observed for the alpha 2, alpha 3, beta 1, beta 3, and gamma 1 mRNAs were unusual because these transcripts were only detected at very low levels in the majority of thalamic nuclei. The rostral group of intralaminar nuclei in particular displayed moderately high levels of the alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 5, beta 1, beta 2, beta 3, gamma 1, and gamma 2 transcripts, especially in Rh and CeM nuclei (Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). There were also very high levels in the Pf nucleus of the caudal group of intralaminar nuclei (see Figs. 8, 9). Labeling of alpha 4 transcripts was noticeably absent from every nucleus in the intralaminar group with the Rh and CeM nuclei being minor exceptions, showing just weakly positive levels (Fig. 4D). alpha 5 transcripts were also decreased in the caudal intralaminar group from the usual moderately high levels of expression seen in other dorsal thalamic nuclei; there was a dramatic drop in hybridization levels for alpha 5 transcripts in the CM and CL nuclei (see Figs. 6E, 8E). Another unusual feature of the intralaminar nuclei compared with other nuclei was the complementary nature of expression of alpha 4 and alpha 5 mRNAs and of alpha 2, alpha 3, beta 1, and gamma 1 mRNAs in the CM and CL nuclei. The alpha 4 and alpha 5 subunit transcripts were present in many of the dorsal thalamic nuclei, with the exception of the intralaminar nuclei in which there was a dramatic drop in hybridization levels for them (Figs. 4D,E, 6D,E, 8D,E). This was in sharp contrast to the expression of alpha 2, alpha 3, beta 1, and gamma 1 subunit mRNAs, which was virtually absent in most other nuclei but present at moderate-to-high levels in the CeM, CM, Pc, Pf, and CL nuclei of the intralaminar group (Figs. 4B,C,G, 5A, 6B,C,G, 7A). The medial geniculate complex All of the subunit transcripts were present at moderate levels in the medial geniculate complex. High levels of hybridization were observed for the alpha 1, alpha 5, beta 2, and gamma 2 subunit transcripts in both the MGv and MGd nuclear divisions, with a slight increase in signal in MGv (see Figs. 8A,E,H, 9B). A distinctive increase in hybridization levels was also observed for alpha 1 subunit transcripts in the magnocellular nucleus (see Fig. 8A). Moderate levels were detected for beta 1 and gamma 1 subunit transcripts (see Figs. 8G, 9A) with slightly lower levels for beta 3, alpha 3, alpha 4, and alpha 2 transcripts (see Figs. 8B,C,D, 9C). The dorsal nucleus of the complex showed increased levels over the ventral nucleus for alpha 3, alpha 4, and alpha 5 subunit transcripts. The LGd nucleus Of all nuclei in the thalamus, the LGd nucleus had the highest levels of hybridization for every subunit transcript. The expression patterns in this nucleus have been described in detail elsewhere (Huntsman et al., 1995a). Expression of the alpha 1, beta 2, and gamma 2 subunit mRNAs was particularly high. Moreover, the LGd nucleus also expressed all other transcripts at moderate-to-high levels, including transcripts that were usually expressed at low levels in other nuclei---a similar pattern observed for the other sensory relay nuclei. Expression of alpha 1, alpha 5, beta 2, and gamma 2 mRNA was slightly higher in the magnocellular layers (Figs. 6A,H, 7B), whereas that of the alpha 2, alpha 4, beta 1, beta 3, and gamma 1 mRNAs was equally high in all six layers (Figs. 6B,D,G, 7A,C). The distribution of alpha 3 mRNAs was the most unique because hybridization for this subunit mRNA was primarily located in the magnocellular layers (Fig. 6C). The posterior group of nuclei The posterior group had overall low levels of expression of all receptor subunit transcripts, even those normally expressed at high levels, such as alpha 1, alpha 5, beta 2, and gamma 2 mRNAs. The SG-L nuclei expressed a wide variety of receptor subunit transcripts, including alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, beta 1, beta 2, gamma 1, and gamma 2 (see Figs. 10A,B,C,G,H, 11A,B). The distribution pattern and variety of transcripts expressed in SGL was similar to that observed in the intralaminar nuclei, with a comparable increase in hybridization levels for the otherwise rare alpha 2, alpha 3, beta 1, and gamma 1 subunit mRNAs and a reduction to negligible levels of alpha 4 subunit mRNAs.

The epithalamus

In the habenular nuclei, the most prominently expressed subunit mRNAs were the two representatives of the gamma  class, gamma 1 and gamma 2 (Figs. 8G,H), and alpha 3 (Fig. 8C). alpha 1, alpha 2, beta 1, and beta 2 subunit mRNAs were present, but at much lower levels (Figs. 8A,B, 9A,B), and alpha 4, alpha 5, and beta 3 mRNAs hybridized just above background (Figs. 8D,E, 9C). The highest transcript levels detected in the paraventricular nuclei were gamma 2, gamma 1, alpha 1, alpha 3, alpha 5, and beta 1 and, to a lesser degree, alpha 2, beta 2, beta 3, and alpha 4 (Figs. 2, 3). All of the subunit mRNAs examined were present at relatively high levels, similar to those observed in the intralaminar nuclei. The paraventricular nuclei also had the highest expression levels of gamma 1 transcripts: almost double that observed in any other nucleus of the thalamus (Fig. 2G).

The ventral thalamus

The reticular nucleus was unique. Of all the transcripts studied, only the gamma 2 subunit mRNA was expressed in significant amounts. alpha 2, alpha 3, alpha 5, beta 1, beta 3, and gamma 1 subunit expression could sometimes be identified at extremely low levels, but this was not consistent and always bordered on undetectability. alpha 3 was detected more often than the others. Labeling for the alpha 1, alpha 4, and beta 2 transcripts was never detected in the reticular nucleus. In the fields of Forel and the ZI, mRNAs for gamma 2, alpha 1, beta 2, and alpha 3 subunits were present at relatively low levels, and other transcripts were absent (Figs. 4A,C,H, 5B). The small dorsal extension of the ZI into the posteroventral part of the reticular nucleus showed expression typical of the rest of the ZI (Figs. 4, 5). The pregeniculate nucleus expressed most of the subunit transcripts at moderate levels, especially gamma 2 and alpha 1 (Figs. 6A,H).

Quantitative observations

Relative levels of mRNA expression were determined by measuring the density of hybridization from film autoradiograms and converting them to units of radioactivity (nCi/gm). Density readings for each cRNA probe were collected and compared across thalamic nuclei to determine which groups of subunit mRNAs were expressed in particular nuclei and which nuclei maintained the highest levels of each subunit mRNA (Table 2). Optical density readings for all GABAA receptor transcripts verified the observations shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and were the source of numerical data used to construct Figures 12, 13, 14 and Tables 1 and 2. The alpha 1, beta 2, and gamma 2 subunit transcripts were present at extremely high levels in the sensory relay nuclei (Fig. 12) and exhibited high levels in most of the other nuclei (Fig. 13). The other transcripts showed varying patterns of which the greatest variations were found in the intralaminar nuclei (Fig. 13). In the reticular nucleus, levels of most subunit mRNAs did not reach threshold, except gamma 2 and occasionally alpha 3 subunit transcripts (Fig. 14).

Table 2. Relative intensity of hybridization in thalamic nuclei


 alpha 1  alpha 2  alpha 3  alpha 4  alpha 5  beta 1  beta 2  beta 3  gamma 1  gamma 2

AV 0.45 0.47 0.51 0.48 0.76 0.26 0.68 0.60 0.22 0.23
AM 0.34 0.47 0.46 0.46 0.67 0.26 0.56 0.64 0.23 0.23
AD 0.36 0.24 0.62 0.29 0.51 0.40 0.45 0.64 0.22 0.47
VA 0.23 0.36 0.29 0.24 0.17 0.19 0.27 0.57 0.21 0.22
Vla 0.23 0.28 0.40 0.40 0.14 0.20 0.16 0.54 0.21 0.34
Vlp 0.38 0.32 0.39 0.38 0.29 0.24 0.22 0.47 0.19 0.21
VPL 0.39 0.45 0.37 0.55 0.42 0.26 0.45 0.47 0.29 0.43
VPM 0.48 0.51 0.43 0.65 0.48 0.28 0.47 0.54 0.36 0.49
VPI 0.20 0.28 0.32 0.57 0.38 0.17 0.24 0.37 0.21 0.11
VMb 0.26 0.67 0.64 0.83 0.57 0.31 0.45 0.59 0.28 0.45
MDm 0.20 0.52 0.71 0.59 0.43 0.25 0.36 0.55 0.36 0.31
MDl 0.21 0.49 0.68 0.64 0.48 0.27 0.39 0.41 0.30 0.37
Rh 0.21 0.68 0.70 0.47 0.54 0.47 0.35 0.85 0.40 0.25
CeM 0.24 0.64 0.79 0.49 0.35 0.77 0.48 0.59 0.45 0.31
Pc 0.15 0.52 0.53 0.36 0.18 0.38 0.17 0.43 0.24 0.22
CM 0.22 0.44 0.29 0.28 0.14 0.42 0.32 0.58 0.36 0.30
CL 0.27 0.65 0.66 0.31 0.10 0.36 0.33 0.72 0.37 0.41
Pf 0.40 1.0 1.0 0.38 0.22 1.0 0.62 0.78 1.0 0.71
LD 0.41 0.42 0.57 0.41 0.52 0.37 0.43 0.41 0.37 0.32
LP 0.87 0.93 0.64 0.90 0.81 0.67 0.83 0.78 0.55 0.79
LGmc 1.0 0.50 0.61 0.85 0.69 0.43 1.0 0.65 0.31 1.0
LGpc 0.91 0.68 0.28 0.84 0.59 0.54 0.95 0.64 0.43 0.97
MGad 0.34 0.68 0.68 0.77 0.65 0.23 0.35 0.51 0.29 0.36
MGv 0.41 0.51 0.55 0.56 0.69 0.22 0.46 0.45 0.17 0.47
Pla 0.20 0.31 0.37 0.52 0.34 0.21 0.26 0.47 0.27 0.26
Pli 0.81 0.87 0.57 0.98 1.0 0.54 0.51 0.84 0.32 0.69
Pll 0.52 0.62 0.31 0.59 0.52 0.40 0.33 0.82 0.22 0.41
Plm 0.77 0.85 0.41 1.0 0.77 0.56 0.48 1.0 0.39 0.63
Po 0.27 0.33 0.22 0.37 0.39 0.27 0.18 0.65 0.25 0.22
SGL 0.72 0.82 0.89 0.54 0.60 0.63 0.37 0.82 0.57 0.55
R 0.01 0.10 0.18 0.05 0.04 0.07 0.01 0.14 0.08 0.11

Optical density readings were obtained from film autoradiograms in individual nuclei. Values from multiple in situ hybridization runs were averaged for all cRNA probes, and individual values were compared against each other for the estimation of the intensity of cRNA probe labeling in individual nuclei. The optical density value for each nucleus was divided by the value found in the nucleus with the highest density value for each probe. The density in the nucleus with the highest intensity for each cRNA probe is thus 1.0, and the other values are fractions of this value. Hybridization levels of 33P-labeled cRNA probes were converted from density units to units of radioactivity using 14C standards exposed on the same sheet of film (see Materials and Methods).


Fig. 12. Histogram of mean levels of receptor subunit mRNA distribution for all the subunit mRNAs examined in selected nuclei of the dorsal thalamus, including the sensory relay nuclei. There is a noticeable increase in subunit mRNA levels within sensory-related nuclei, especially for the alpha 1, beta 2, and gamma 2 subunit mRNAs. Optical density readings converted to measures of radioactivity (nCi/gm) by reference to 14C standards exposed on the same sheet of film.
[View Larger Version of this Image (39K GIF file)]


Fig. 13. Histogram of mean density of hybridization taken from intralaminar nuclei for all subunit transcripts examined. Note the decreased levels of alpha 4 and alpha 5 subunit mRNAs when compared with neighboring nuclei of the ventral group. Density readings were converted to units of radioactivity (nCi/gm) by reference to 14C standards exposed on the same sheet of film.
[View Larger Version of this Image (42K GIF file)]


Fig. 14. Histogram of mean density of hybridization taken from the reticular nucleus at all levels of the thalamus for all subunit transcripts examined. Note the absence of alpha 1 and beta 2 subunit mRNAs in this nucleus and the background levels of other subunit mRNAs, except for gamma 2 and alpha 3. Density readings were converted to units of radioactivity (nCi/gm) by reference to 14C standards exposed on the same sheet of film.
[View Larger Version of this Image (15K GIF file)]


DISCUSSION

Ten GABAA receptor subunit mRNAs were expressed throughout the thalamus in overlapping yet distinct nucleus-specific patterns. Overall, alpha 1, beta 2, and gamma 2 subunit mRNAs were expressed at much higher levels than alpha 2-alpha 5, beta 1, beta 3, and gamma 1. Sensory relay nuclei (LGd, VP, MG) and the pulvinar showed increased levels compared with other nuclei and expressed a greater variety of transcripts. In intralaminar nuclei, transcripts such as alpha 2, alpha 3, beta 3, and gamma 1, with low levels of expression in most other nuclei, were expressed at moderate-to-high levels, whereas others, such as alpha 4 and alpha 5 expressed at higher levels in other nuclei, were not expressed. In the reticular nucleus, with the exception of gamma 2 and alpha 3 transcripts, virtually no GABAA receptor transcripts were expressed.

Some subunit mRNAs predominate throughout the thalamus

Although transcripts were distributed unevenly throughout the dorsal thalamus, there was an order of expression intensity consisting of (from high to low): alpha 1, beta 2, gamma 2, alpha 5, beta 1, alpha 3, gamma 1, beta 3, alpha 4, and alpha 2. The abundance of alpha 1, beta 2, and gamma 2 mRNAs parallels that found in monkey cerebral cortex (Huntsman et al., 1994; 1995b) and in most regions of rat CNS (Gambarana et al., 1991; Persohn et al., 1992; Wisden et al., 1992). This may reflect their being primary contributors to native GABAA receptors (Möhler et al., 1995). Wisden et al. (1992) propose likely native subtypes based on relative distributions of mRNAs in the rat: alpha 2beta 3gamma x, alpha 5beta 1gamma x, alpha 1alpha 6beta 2delta , and a putative thalamic receptor isoform, alpha 1alpha 4beta 2delta . Similar conjectures can be made from the nuclear distributions in the present study. Receptors formed from different combinations of subunit polypeptides may confer different pharmacological properties on GABAA receptors associated with particular functional groups of thalamic nuclei. Confirmation of this will require examination at the level of the translated polypeptides themselves.

Mapping of GABAA receptor genes on human chromosomes identified three clusters consisting of: alpha 1beta 2gamma 2 subunit genes on chromosome 5 (5q31-5q35) (Wilcox et al., 1992; Russek and Farb, 1994), alpha 2alpha 4beta 1gamma 1 on chromosome 4 (p12-p13), (Buckle et al., 1989; Kirkness et al., 1991; McLean et al., 1995), and alpha 5beta 3gamma 3 on chromosome 15 (15q11-15q13) (Wagstaff et al., 1991), suggesting an ancestral alpha beta gamma cluster. Hence, nucleus-specific expression patterns of alpha beta gamma transcripts may indicate expression of grouped genes under the influence of similar regulatory elements (Russek and Farb, 1994).

Nucleus-specific expression of GABAA receptor subunit genes

Expression of GABAA receptor subunit mRNAs was greatest in sensory thalamic nuclei. The predominant transcripts in sensory nuclei were alpha 1, alpha 5, beta 2, and gamma 2, in which levels of these mRNAs were higher than in other thalamic nuclei. In addition, all transcripts examined were present at detectable levels, even alpha 2-alpha 4, beta 1, beta 3, and gamma 1 mRNAs, whose expression was very low or absent in other thalamic nuclei. The restricted alpha 3 expression in the magnocellular layers of the LGd reflects the pattern of muscimol binding; others reflect that of flunitrazepam binding (Shaw and Cynader, 1986).

The over-abundant expression of GABAA receptor subunit genes in sensory relay nuclei is puzzling because they do not contain increased numbers of GABA cells compared with other monkey dorsal thalamic nuclei (Hunt et al., 1991), and there is no evidence for increased density of GABAergic innervation in them. If enhanced mRNA levels can be taken as indicators of an increased relative number of GABAA receptors, this may reflect the importance of inhibition in thalamic sensory processing. In sensory nuclei, enhanced center-surround antagonism (Sillito and Kemp, 1983), binocular interactions (Pape and Eysel, 1986), orientation bias (Vidyasager, 1984), receptive field size, temporal patterns of cell discharge (Hicks et al., 1986), and suppression of background discharge during passage of afferent volleys (Warren and Jones, 1994) all depend on GABAA-mediated inhibition.

The intralaminar nuclei expressed a wide range of GABAA receptor subunit mRNAs, including alpha 1-alpha 3, beta 1-beta 3, gamma 1, and gamma 2. mRNAs usually expressed at much lower levels in other thalamic nuclei, namely alpha 2, alpha 3, beta 1, beta 3, and gamma 1, were found at moderate levels. The virtual lack of expression of alpha 4 and alpha 5 transcripts in the intralaminar nuclei contrasted with all other nuclei. Selective expression of particular subunit mRNAs within functionally distinct groups of nuclei may indicate that in these nuclei, unusual subunit combinations are used to form functional GABAA receptors. The probability of GABA-mediated channel subtypes with combinations of either alpha 4beta 1gamma x or alpha 5beta 1gamma x within intralaminar nuclei, for example, would be extremely low compared with a subtype made up of alpha 3beta 1gamma x subunits.

The expression profile of GABAA receptor subunit mRNAs in the SG-L nuclei was similar to that of the intralaminar group. This may confirm SG-L as a posterior extension of the intralaminar system (Jones, 1985).

The reticular nucleus

The reticular nucleus of the ventral thalamus essentially expressed only gamma 2 transcripts and at weak levels. alpha 1 and beta 2 transcripts that were invariably coexpressed with gamma 2 transcripts in other thalamic nuclei were noticeable by their absence. Reticular nucleus cells are a major source of GABAergic terminals in the dorsal thalamus and are linked to one another synaptically by intranuclear axon collaterals and in some species by dendrodendritic synapses (Ide, 1982; Deschênes et al., 1985; Yen et al., 1985). Both sets of synapses are GABAergic, bicuculline- and benzodiazepine-sensitive (Huguenard and Prince, 1994), and thus associated with GABAA receptors. There is no precedent for functional GABAA receptors formed by homomeric arrays of gamma 2 subunits. Therefore, novel GABAA receptor subunit mRNAs and subunit polypeptides that combine with gamma 2 subunits to form functional GABAA receptors may be discovered in the reticular nucleus.

In the rat reticular nucleus, there is low expression (Wisden et al., 1992) and lack of immunoreactivity for most subunits (Bentivoglio et al., 1990; Fritschy and Möhler, 1995). Wisden et al. (1992) reported equal levels of alpha 1, alpha 3, and gamma 2 transcripts in rat reticular nucleus, with lower levels of alpha 2, alpha 4, beta 2, beta 3, gamma 1, and gamma 3 transcripts, and nondetectable levels of alpha 5, alpha 6, beta 1, and delta  transcripts. We did not examine gamma 3, delta , and alpha 6 transcripts, so we cannot rule out that they may be present in the monkey reticular nucleus, although that would represent a major species difference. Absence of alpha 1 and beta 2 transcripts from the monkey reticular nucleus suggests that the pharmacological profile of GABAA receptors would be different from that of the rat reticular nucleus in view of the known involvement of the alpha 1 subunit with beta xgamma 2 subunits in forming benzodiazepine type I receptors (Pritchett et al., 1989b).

Comparison with rodent thalamus

Compared with the rat thalamus, there is a scarcity of alpha 4 transcripts and an abundance of alpha 5 transcripts in the monkey. alpha 4 transcripts are reportedly expressed at extremely high levels throughout the rat thalamus (Khrestchatisky et al., 1989; Wisden et al., 1991), yet only sensory relay nuclei in monkeys express alpha 4 at significant levels. Specificity of the monkey alpha 4 subunit cDNA was tested in additional in situ hybridization experiments using the monkey-specific cRNA probes on sections of rat thalamus in which it produced very high levels of labeling. The same monkey-specific cDNA, when used to probe Northern blots containing total RNA from monkey or rat, identified two transcripts at 4 and 11 kb for the monkey and a single transcript at 4 kb for the rat, in accord with previous reports (Ymer et al., 1989a; Huntsman et al., 1994). Another conflicting distribution pattern is the lack of alpha 5 expression reported in the rat. This subunit maintains moderately high levels in most monkey nuclei except the intralaminar. In recombinant receptors containing alpha 1, alpha 2, alpha 3, and alpha 5 subunits, the alpha  subunit variant strongly affects affinity and efficacy of benzodiazepine binding (Macdonald and Olsen, 1994); alpha 5 subunit combinations show a lower affinity for zolpidem (Pritchett and Seeburg, 1990). alpha 4 subunits are associated with subtypes that lack benzodiazepine binding (Wieland et al., 1992), and the mRNA distribution in rat is associated with a lack of [3H]flunitrazepam binding (Olsen et al., 1990). [3H]flunitrazepam sites appear much more abundant in monkey LGd (Shaw and Cynader, 1986), reflecting the high levels of alpha 1 subunit transcripts. The dominating presence of alpha 1 and alpha 5 transcripts with virtual lack of alpha 4 in most monkey thalamic nuclei suggests that species-specific expression patterns may be associated with pharmacological differences.

A fundamental difference between monkey and rat thalamus is lack of GABAergic interneurons from rat dorsal thalamic nuclei except the LGd (Ohara et al., 1983; Webster and Rowe, 1984; Montero and Zempel, 1986; Benson et al., 1992). By contrast, GABAergic interneurons in dorsal thalamus of cats and monkeys comprise ~25% of all neurons in most nuclei (Fitzpatrick et al., 1984; Benson et al., 1991b; Hunt et al., 1991). GABAergic inhibition in cat and monkey thalamus thus arises from both the reticular nucleus and intrinsic interneurons, whereas in most dorsal thalamic nuclei of rodents, the primary source is the reticular nucleus. Whether lack of alpha 4 or addition of alpha 5 transcripts in the monkey reflects this fundamental difference needs to be examined further.


FOOTNOTES

Received Jan. 19, 1996; revised March 1, 1996; accepted March 18, 1996.

  

This work was supported by Grant NS21377 and by Training Grant 5-T32-NS07357 from National Institutes of Health, United States Public Health Service. We thank Mr. Phong Nguyen for technical help, Dr. D. L. Benson for the subcloning and characterization of the GAD67 cDNA, and Mr. I. Topalli for help in subcloning and characterizing the beta 3 and gamma 1 subunit cDNAs.

Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. E.G. Jones at the above address.

Dr. Leggio's present address: Department of Neurology, The Catholic University, Rome, Italy.



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