Cellular and subcellular mRNA localization of glutamate transporter isoforms GLT1a and GLT1b in rat brain by in situ hybridization.

ABSTRACT: GLT1, the predominant glutamate transporter of the forebrain, exists in two splice variant isoforms, i.e., GLT1a and GLT1b. Although GLT1 was originally detected only in astrocytes, we have recently demonstrated that GLT1a protein is expressed by neurons in the hippocampus as well. In the present study, the mRNA distribution patterns for the two isoforms were examined throughout the rat brain by using nonisotopic in situ hybridization and variant-specific RNA probes. Both isoforms were expressed in neuronal subgroups outside the hippocampus, such as in the cerebral cortex layer VI, or the neurons in the olfactory tubercle. As was the case in the hippocampus, GLT1a was the predominant transcript in neurons in these regions as well. Both GLT1 isoforms were widely expressed in astrocytes thro

SUBMITTER: Berger UV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3676901 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature