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First visualization of glutamate and GABA in neurones by immunocytochemistry

Nature volume 301, pages 517–520 (1983)Cite this article

Abstract

Immunocytochemical methods for peptides and serotonin have greatly advanced the study of neurones in which these substances are likely to be transmitters1,2. Such direct techniques have not so far been available for the amino acid transmitter candidates. We report here the selective immunocytochemical visualization of the putative transmitters glutamate (Glu) and γ-aminobutyrate (GABA) by the use of antibodies raised against the amino acids coupled to bovine serum albumin (BSA) with glutaraldehyde (GA). The tissue localizations of Glu-like and GABA-like immunoreactivities (Glu-LI and GABA-LI) matched those of specific uptake sites for Glu and GABA, and, in the case of GABA-LI, also that of the specific marker enzyme glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD). Thus, GABA-LI was located in what are believed to be GABAergic inhibitory neurones, whereas Glu-LI was concentrated in excitatory, possibly glutamatergic neurones. Preliminary electron microscopic observations suggest that the transmitter amino acids are significantly concentrated in synaptic vesicles.

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Author notes

  1. Paul Edminson: Paediatric Research Institute, University of Oslo, Rikshospitalet, Oslo 1, Norway

  2. Alfhild Kristine Leknes: Deceased.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Anatomical Institute, University of Oslo, Karl Johansgt. 47, Oslo, 1, Norway

    Jon Storm-Mathisen, Alfhild Kristine Leknes, Anna Torbjørg Bore, Jorunn Line Vaaland, Paul Edminson, Finn-Mogens Š. Haug & Ole Petter Ottersen

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  1. Jon Storm-Mathisen
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Storm-Mathisen, J., Leknes, A., Bore, A. et al. First visualization of glutamate and GABA in neurones by immunocytochemistry. Nature 301, 517–520 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1038/301517a0

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