IMMUNOCYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF GABA(A) RECEPTORS IN THE CAT VISUAL-CORTEX

The laminar distribution and morphological structures associated with GABA(A) receptor immunoreactivity in the cat visual cortex were studied by using two different polyclonal antibodies directed either against the purified GABA(A) receptor protein (antibody ''967'') or against a specific domain of the beta1-subunit of the GABA(A) receptor (antibody ''Q''). Immunoblots of cat visual cortex tissue with these antibodies revealed that antibody ''Q'' recognizes only one subunit, namely the beta1-subunit of the GABA(A) receptor, and that antibody ''967'' recognizes three subunits. Both antibodies produced very similar staining patterns, indicating that the beta1-subunit may be an essential component of the GABA(A) receptor in the cat visual cortex. The typical staining pattern showed a clear membrane structure around neuronal somata. Using cell body shape criteria, immunopositive neurons included both pyramidal cells in cortical layers II, III, and V, and nonpyramidal cells in all cortical layers. Immunopositive neurons were uniformly distributed in layers II to VI, whereas the density of immunopositive cells in layer I was lower. Some immunopositive neurons were also found in the white matter underlying the visual cortex. In gray matter, immunopositive structures also included dendrites, especially the proximal dendrites, and axon initial segments of pyramidal neurons. The immunopositive processes usually ran vertically toward the pial surface. Some astrocytes were also immunostained. They were localized in layer I and in the white matter. The overall pattern of immunostaining was similar in areas 17, 18, and 19.