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. 1980 Jan;77(1):670–674. doi: 10.1073/pnas.77.1.670

Autoradiographic localization of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the rat cerebellum.

J M Palacios, W S Young 3rd, M J Kuhar
PMCID: PMC348337  PMID: 6244575

Abstract

[3H]Muscimol was used in the light microscopic autoradiographic localization of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in the rat cerebellum. The binding of [3H]-muscimol to the slide-mounted tissue sections had all of the characteristics associated with a GABA receptor. It was saturable with appropriate kinetic constants and was blocked only by other GABAergic drugs. Autoradiographic studies revealed a very high density of receptors over the granule cell layer, a low level over the molecular layer, and negligible receptor binding over white matter. This suggested a high localization of GABA receptors to granule cells, which is supported by other neurochemical studies. The autoradiographic procedure used here should be a useful method in further studies of receptors requiring high sensitivity and increased anatomical resolution.

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Selected References

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