1 Department of Human Anatomy and Genetics, Oxford University, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK, , 2 Division of Cerebral Structure, National Institute for Physiological Sciences, Myodaiji, Okazaki, CREST Japan Science and Technology Corporation, Japan, , 3 Instituto de Neurociencias, CSIC and Universidad Miguel Hernández, San Juan de Alicante and , 4 Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de CastillaLa Mancha, Campus de Albacete, Albacete, Spain
Rafael Luján, Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Castilla La Mancha, Campus de Albacete, 02071 Albacete, Spain. Email: rlujan{at}med-ab.uclm.es.
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Abstract |
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Introduction |
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Group I mGluRs are important in the genesis of synaptic plasticity, such as the induction of long-term potentiation and long-term depression (Aiba et al., 1994; Lu et al., 1997
). These receptors modulate neuronal excitability and synaptic transmission through regulation of ion channels and ionotropic receptors (Pin and Duvoisin, 1995
). Light microscopic immunocytochemistry and in situ hybridization studies have shown that group I mGluRs (mGluR1, mGluR5) are particularly abundant in the cerebral cortex of adult animals (Shigemoto et al., 1992
; Romano et al., 1995
; Luján et al., 1996
). Electron microscopic studies revealed the highest density of mGluR1 and mGluR5 located outside the synaptic membrane specialization (Baude et al., 1993
; Nusser et al., 1994
; Luján et al., 1996
, 1997
) and they appeared to be restricted to postsynaptic elements (Shigemoto et al., 1997
). Via group I mGluRs, glutamate produces slow depolarization in cortical neurons and shifts the firing mode from rhythmic bursting to single spikes, likely resulting from the inhibition of K+ channels (Pin and Duvoisin, 1995
). Group I mGluRs are also especially important for the regulation of pyramidal cell excitability in the hippocampus, including depolarization and increased cell firing (Pin and Duvoisin, 1995
).
Messenger RNA transcripts and receptor proteins for mGluRs are expressed in the developing rat cerebral cortex (Catania et al., 1994; Furuta and Martin, 1999
; Muñoz et al., 1999
). Several lines of evidence suggest that group I activation might play an important role in neuronal differentiation and synaptogenesis during cortical development. First, differentiation of cortical laminae during neurogenesis is accompanied by changes in mGluR expression (Furuta and Martin, 1999
; Muñoz et al., 1999
). Second, neuronal calcium oscillations, that are thought to be of importance in signal transduction and the regulation of gene expression, are produced by endogenous activation of mGluRs (Flint et al., 1999
). Third, phosphoinositide (PI) hydrolysis induced by activation of mGluRs is dramatically enhanced in developing compared to adult brain (Sladeczek et al., 1985
; Nicoletti et al., 1986
; Schoepp and Hillman, 1990
; Sortino et al., 1991
; Romano et al., 1995
, 1996
; Casabona et al., 1997
). Fourth, the use of specific group I mGluR agonists evoked [Ca2+]i increases, indicating functional mGluRs in layer I and demonstrating the presence of mGluR1
in CajalRetzius cells in mouse (Martínez-Galán et al., 2001).
Information regarding distribution of mGluRs in the cerebral cortex is important in helping to determine the roles that the different receptor subtypes may play in pre- and postnatal development. In addition, the localization of receptors to identified cells and synapses may help allocate particular subtypes to different functional roles. However, the expression pattern and the discrete cellular and subcellular localization of group I mGluR proteins during corticogenesis are not fully identified. To understand better the mechanisms by which mGluRs mediate physiological effects in developing cortical neurons, the goal of the present study is to characterize the expression pattern and the cellular and the precise subcellular localization of mGluR1 and mGluR5 in the rat neocortex and hippocampus during pre- and postnatal development. A preliminary report of this work has appeared in abstract form (López-Bendito et al., 2000
).
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Materials and Methods |
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The present study was carried out on the brains of a total of 47 Wistar rats, ranging in age from embryonic day 14 (E14) to adulthood. Animals were grouped as follows: embryonic day 14 = E14 (n = 3), E16 (n = 3), E18 (n = 6); day of birth = P0 (n = 4); postnatal day 2 = P2 (n = 5), P5 (n = 4), P7 (n = 5), P10 (n = 5), P15 (n = 4), P21 (n = 4) and P60 (n = 4). The care and handling of the animals prior to and during the experimental procedures followed European Union regulations, and were approved by the Animal Care and Use Committees of the authors' institutions. All efforts were made to reduce the number of animals used and minimize animal suffering.
Antibodies and controls
Affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies against mGluR1 and mGluR5 were raised in rabbits. The characteristics and specificity of these antibodies have been described elsewhere (Shigemoto et al., 1993
; Jaarsma et al., 1998
). A monoclonal anti-reelin antibody, a gift of Dr A.M. Goffinet, was also used (de Bergeyck et al., 1998
), as well as a monoclonal anti-Calbindin antibody (Chemicon, Temecula, CA).
To test method specificity in the procedures for light and electron microscopy, the primary antibody was omitted or replaced by 5% (v/v) normal serum of the species of the primary antibody. Under these conditions, no selective labeling was observed. Staining patterns were also compared to those obtained by calretinin and calbindin (Chemicon, Temecula, CA); only the antibodies to mGluR1 and mGluR5 consistently labeled the plasma membrane of cells. When double labeling was used, some sections were always incubated with only one primary antibody and the full complement of secondary antibodies to test for any cross-reactivity of secondary antibodies. Other sections were incubated with two primary antibodies and one secondary antibody, followed by the full sequence of signal detection. No cross-labeling was detected that would influence the results.
Immunocytochemistry for Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors
Light Microscope Procedures
Foetuses were collected by Caesarean section after anaesthesia of the dam with an i.p. injection of a Rompun/Imalgene mixture (0.1 ml/kg body wt). Animals were deeply anaesthetized by hypothermia (E14P5) or by i.p. injection of RompunImalgene 1:1 (0.1 ml/kg body wt) and then the hearts were surgically exposed for perfusion fixation. Perfusion was carried out as similar as described earlier (López-Bendito et al., 2001). After perfusion, tissue blocks containing the cerebral cortex and hippocampus were dissected and washed thoroughly in 0.1 M phosphate buffer (PB) for several hours. Coronal 60 µm sections were cut with a Vibratome and collected in 0.1 M PB. For the immunoperoxidase method, sections were incubated in 10% normal goat serum (NGS) in 50 mM Tris buffer (pH 7.4) containing 0.9% NaCl (TBS), with 0.2% Triton X-100, for 1 h. Sections were then incubated for 48 h with affinity-purified polyclonal antibodies against mGluR1
or mGluR5 at a final protein concentration of 12 µg/ml in TBS containing 1% NGS. After washes in TBS, the sections were incubated for 2 h in biotinylated goat anti-rabbit IgG (Vector Laboratories) diluted 1:50 in TBS containing 1% NGS. They were then transferred into avidinbiotinperoxidase complex (ABC kit, Vector Laboratories) diluted 1:100 for 2 h at room temperature. Peroxidase enzyme activity was revealed using 3,3'-diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB; 0.05% in TB, pH 7.4) as chromogen and 0.01% H2O2 as substrate. Finally, the sections were air-dried and coverslipped prior to observation in a Leica DMRS photomicroscope equipped with differential interference contrast optics.
Alternate sections were used for immunofluorescence experiments using a laser scanning confocal microscope. Primary antibodies used in combination with polyclonal antibodies to group I metabotropic receptors were monoclonal anti-reelin antibody G10 diluted 1:1000, and a monoclonal anti-calbindin antibody diluted 1:1000. Sections were incubated overnight at 4°C in a mixture of primary antibodies in TBS containing 1% NGS and 0.1% Triton X-100. Sections were then washed in TBS and incubated for 2 h in a mixture of secondary antibodies coupled to the cyanine-derived fluorochromes Cy2 or Cy3 (Amersham, UK). These secondary antibodies were used at a dilution of 1:200 in TBS with 0.1% Triton X-100. After extensive TBS washes, the sections were mounted on gelatinized slides and coverslipped with Vectashield (Vector Laboratories).
Each labeling combination was analyzed in sections from two to four prenatal or postnatal animals. Co-localization of mGluR1 or mGluR5 with the neurochemical markers reelin and calbindin was assessed by confocal laser microscopy (Leica TLSCM). For each marker, a semi-quantitative estimation of the proportion of double labeled neurons was performed by analyzing samples of 100130 cells, collected in eight to ten coronal sections through the prenatal or postnatal neocortex and hippocampus. Images were stored and analyzed using appropriate hardware and software supplied by the microscope manufacturer. Brightness and contrast were adjusted for the whole frame; no part of a frame was enhanced or modified in any way.
Electron Microscope Procedures
Animals were anaesthetized as described above and perfused as described earlier (Luján et al., 1996; López-Bendito et al., 2001
). After perfusion, tissue blocks containing the cerebral cortex and hippocampus were dissected and washed thoroughly in 0.1 M PB for several hours. Coronal 60 µm sections were cut with a Vibratome and collected in 0.1 M PB.
Pre-embedding Immunoperoxidase Method.
Immunocytochemical reactions were carried out as described earlier (Luján et al., 1996; López-Bendito et al., 2001
). Free-floating sections were incubated in 10% NGS diluted in TBS for 1 h. Sections were then incubated for 48 h in an affinity-purified polyclonal antibody anti-mGluR1
or anti-mGluR5 at a final protein concentration of 12 µg/ml diluted in TBS containing 1% NGS. After washes in TBS, the sections were incubated for 2 h in biotinylated goat anti-rabbit IgG (Vector Laboratories) diluted 1:50 in TBS containing 1% NGS. They were then transferred into avidinbiotin peroxidase complex (ABC kit, Vector Laboratories) diluted 1:100 for 2 h at room temperature. Peroxidase enzyme activity was revealed using DAB (0.05% in TB, pH 7.4) as chromogen and 0.01% H2O2 as substrate.
Pre-embedding Immunogold Method. Sections for the pre-embedding immunogold method were incubated together with those used for peroxidase reaction up to the secondary antibody stage. They were then incubated for 3 h in goat anti-rabbit IgG coupled to 1.4 nm gold (Nanoprobes Inc., Stony Brook, NY) diluted 1:100 in TBS containing 1% NGS. After several washes in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), the sections were postfixed in 1% glutaraldehyde in PBS for 10 min. They were washed in double-distilled water, followed by silver enhancement of the gold particles with an HQ Silver kit (Nanoprobes Inc., Stony Brook, NY).
The peroxidase-reacted sections and the goldsilver-labeled sections were processed for electron microscopy. This included treatment with OsO4 (1% in 0.1 M PB), block-staining with uranyl acetate, dehydration in graded series of ethanol and flat-embedding on glass slides in Durcupan (Fluka) resin.
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Results |
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Prenatal Development
The expression of group I mGluRs was studied at prenatal ages E14, E16 and E18. At E14 and E16, we did not detect expression for group I mGluRs. Significant levels of immunoreactivity for mGluR1 and mGluR5 were only detected in the telencephalon on E18 (Figs 1 and 2
). At that age, the two receptors showed a differential pattern of distribution in the neocortex and hippocampus during development.
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mGluR5.
In the marginal zone, subplate and cortical plate of the neocortex, immunolabeling for mGluR5 was intense and diffuse at E18 (Fig. 2AC). Immunolabeling was also intense and diffuse in the claustrum primordium, which is ventral to and continuous with the subplate (Fig. 2A
). Cell bodies located in the marginal zone, some of them with the typical horizontal orientation of CajalRetzius cells, and in the subplate were also labeled (Fig. 2A,C
). In the hippocampus, mGluR5 had a moderate expression level (Fig. 2A,B
) and immunopositive neurons could be also detected.
Postnatal Development
An intense expression of mGluR1 and mGluR5 was already found in the cortical areas from the day of birth (P0) and progressively increased until P21, when the adult levels were reached.
mGluR1 in the Neocortex during Postnatal Development.
During the first week of postnatal development, immunoreactivity for mGluR1
was mainly detected in cortical layer I neurons (Fig. 3AC
). These labeled neurons resembled Cajal Retzius cells (Fig. 3B
), having the typical fusiform morphology and horizontal orientation and being located at a distance of
20 µm from the pial surface (Meyer et al., 1998
). By P10, the number of cortical layer I immunoreactive mGluR1
neurons decreased (Fig. 3C
) and the expression could not be detected shortly after that age. In cortical layers IIVI, mGluR1
immunoreactivity was weakly detected in interneurons (data not shown). This distribution of the receptor in interneurons was more prominent after the third postnatal week (Fig. 3DF
), when the adult expression was reached. Interneurons expressing mGluR1
throughout the neocortex had a bipolar or multipolar morphology (Fig. 3F
).
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mGluR5 in the Hippocampus during Postnatal Development.
In the hippocampus, a high mGluR5 expression was already detected at P0P2 (Fig. 5D). From the first postnatal week, we observed a progressive increase in immunolabeling (Fig. 5D,G,K
), similar to what was detected in neocortex. Within the hippocampal CA1 and CA3 areas, the stratum oriens showed the strongest mGluR5 immunoreactivity (Fig. 5G,K
). The distal regions of the stratum radiatum showed weaker expression than the proximal regions and the stratum lacunosum-moleculare (Fig. 5G,K
). The stratum pyramidale was devoid of staining at any postnatal age (Fig. 5D,G,K
). At P15P21, adult levels of mGluR5 expression were reached (Fig. 5N
). Thus, as previously described (Luján et al., 1996
), a strong mGluR5 immunoreactivity was observed in the strata oriens and radiatum (Fig. 5N
). The stratum lacunosum-moleculare of the CA1 and CA3 regions and the dentate gyrus were weakly labeled. The stratum lucidum of the CA3 region was almost devoid of any mGluR5 labeling.
Characterization of Neurons Expressing Group I mGluRs during Perinatal Development
In order to investigate whether the neurons expressing group I mGluRs in cortical layer I and in the hippocampal marginal zones were CajalRetzius cells, we carried out a double-labeling experiments using confocal microscopy for the mGluRs and for reelin, an extracellular matrix glycoprotein that is synthesized and secreted by CajalRetzius cells (D'Arcangelo et al., 1995D'Arcangelo et al., 1997; Ogawa et al., 1995
). This experiment was carried out because reelin expression, and not just cell morphology, is the essential trait of CajalRetzius cells (Meyer et al., 1998
, 1999
). Additionally, we carried out double-labeling experiments for mGluR5 and calbindin. The calcium-binding protein calbindin is a marker of marginal zone pioneer neurons in the rat (Meyer et al., 1998
, 1999
; Soria and Fairén, 2000
).
mGluR1
During prenatal development, we did not find co-localization for mGluR1 and reelin in either the neocortex or hippocampus. However, during postnatal development, there was an estimated co-localization of
98% for mGluR1
- and reelin-immunoreactivity in both cortical layer I (Fig. 6GI
) and hippocampal marginal zones (Fig. 4JL
). This demonstrated that the neurons expressing mGluR1
were CajalRetzius cells.
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mGluR5
During prenatal development, we found that 25% of cells expressing reelin also expressed mGluR5 (Fig. 6AC
), indicating that a subpopulation of mGluR5-immunoreactive neurons in the cortical and hippocampal marginal zones were CajalRetzius cells. However, during postnatal development, we could not detect any co-localization of reelin and mGluR5. In addition,
45% of mGluR5-expressing neurons also expressed calbindin (Fig. 6DF
). This, together with the rounded forms of these cells, suggested they could be pioneer neurons of the marginal zone.
Distribution of mGluR1 and mGluR5 at the Electron Microscopic Level
In order to investigate the precise subcellular localization of group I mGluRs in neocortex and hippocampus during postnatal development, we carried out high-resolution immunohistochemical studies using pre-embedding immunoperoxidase and immunogold techniques. Overall, the pattern of distribution of the immunoreactivity for group I mGluRs was consistent with the light microscopic labeling.
mGluR1
During the first postnatal week, all immunolabeled profiles in cortical layer I and hippocampus were identified as somata or dendrites of CajalRetzius cells, as expected on the basis of the light microscopic data. Together with the results of the co-localization experiments (see above), such identification was based on their subpial position in the marginal zones, on their elongated shape and on the presence of abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum in their cytoplasm (Edmunds and Parnavelas, 1982; Derer and Derer, 1990
). The dense reaction product was mainly localized in the plasma membrane of somata and dendrites (Fig. 7A,B
). In somata, immunoperoxidase reaction product was also associated with rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus (Fig. 7A
). The dendritic spines of these neurons showed mGluR1
expression establishing asymmetrical synaptic contacts with axons terminals (Fig. 7C
). Immunogold particles were mainly localized on plasma membranes and were less frequently detected in the cytoplasm (Fig. 7D). In all cases, immunogold particles were located in perisynaptic sites or associated with non-synaptic plasma membranes (Fig. 7E,F
). Labeled synapses were more frequently found in P7P10 animals as compared to P0P2 animals. Presynaptic terminals were irregular in shape (e.g. Fig. 7C,E,F
) and were never immuno-labeled for mGluR1
. They mostly formed synaptic contact on dendritic shafts (Fig. 7E
) and dendritic spines (Fig. 7C,F
).
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Immunoreactivity for mGluR5 was confined to postsynaptic elements, including dendrites and dendritic spines (Fig. 9) at any postnatal age. These findings were consistent with those found using light microscopy. Cell bodies of pyramidal cells or interneurons were mostly devoid of mGluR5 immunoreactivity throughout the cerebral cortex. In cortical layer I, no CajalRetzius cell bodies were labeled and only some pyramidal cell dendrites and dendritic spines at P3 were mGluR5 immunoreactive (Fig. 9A,B
). In these pyramidal cells, immunogold particles were located in perisynaptic sites or associated with non-synaptic membranes (Fig. 9C
). In deeper cortical layers, as illustrated at P10, the peroxidase deposit was also distributed in pyramidal cell and interneuron dendritic shafts (Fig. 9D
), as well as in pyramidal cell dendritic spines (Fig. 9E
) establishing asymmetrical synapses with axon terminals. Immunogold particles were associated with plasma membranes. In dendritic spines, immunogold particles were concentrated at perisynaptic membrane sites adjacent to postsynaptic densities of putative glutamatergic terminals and at extrasynaptic sites (Fig. 9F,G
).
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Discussion |
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mGluR1 immunoreactivity showed a progressive increase in intensity in both neocortex and hippocampus as development proceeded. The results reported here tend to follow the same sequence of developmental variations in the levels of mGluR1 expression (Shigemoto et al., 1992
; Catania et al., 1994
). It has also been demonstrated that cortical mGluR5 expression increases perinatally, peaks around the second postnatal week and decreases thereafter (Catania et al., 1994
; Romano et al., 1996
). These changes in expression are associated with a decline in mGluR5a mRNA expression and an increase in mGluR5b mRNA levels, which predominates in adults (Minakami et al., 1995
; Romano et al., 1996
). In the cortex, we did not find a clear drop in mGluR5 immunoreactivity, but we found no major increase comparable to that revealed for mGluR1
; this is similar to what has been described in thalamus (Liu et al., 1998
).
Interestingly, mGluR5 immunolabeling showed an important reorganization of cortical pyramidal cells. Thus, during the first postnatal week, mGluR5 was preferentially located in pyramidal cell dendrites terminating in layer I. As development proceeded, the receptor became more widely distributed on the surface of the pyramidal cells. The mGluR5 became localized on dendritic spines and associated with synapses. A similar redistribution of group I mGluRs during development of corticothalamic function has also been described in the thalamus (Liu et al., 1998).
Group I mGluRs are Transiently Expressed in the Marginal Zone/Layer I
Group I mGluRs expression in the marginal zone (future layer I) changed during development and peaked perinatally. This developmental pattern suggests that mGluR1 and mGluR5 may function in cortical morphogenesis.
During early corticogenesis, the insertion of the cortical plate within the preplate splits this primitive layer into the marginal zone and the subplate (Marín-Padilla, 1971; Allendoerfer and Shatz, 1994
). The marginal zone contains a population of transient neurons the CajalRetzius cells (Meyer et al., 1999
; Mienville, 1999
) that govern the laminar positioning of cortical plate neurons according to an inside-out gradient of radial migration (Angevine and Sidman, 1961
; Rakic, 1974
). Cajal Retzius cells exert this organizational function by synthesizing and secrete reelin, an extracellular matrix glycoprotein (D'Arcangelo et al., 1995
; Ogawa et al., 1995
). In reelin-deficient reeler mutant mice, neocortical and hippocampal neuronal migration is severely altered (Rakic and Caviness, 1995
; Curran and D'Arcangelo, 1998
; Frotscher, 1998
). As the cortex develops, the marginal zone becomes layer I. The CajalRetzius cells disappear either by cell death (Derer and Derer, 1990
; Spreafico et al., 1995
) or by differentiation into interneurons (Edmunds and Parnavelas, 1982
; Parnavelas and Edmunds, 1983
). As in the neocortical marginal zone, the marginal zones of the hippocampus and fascia dentata, the stratum lacunosum-moleculare and the dentate outer molecular layer, also contain CajalRetzius cells (D'Arcangelo et al., 1995
; Del Rio et al., 1997
; Alcántara et al., 1998
; Drakew et al., 1998
). CajalRetzius cells express diverse types of ionotropic neurotransmitter receptors including NMDA, AMPA and GABAA receptors (Schwartzet al., 1998
; Mienville, 1999
; Mienville and Pesold, 1999
). We have recently demonstrated that mice also express functional metabotropic neurotransmitter receptors that include mGluR1
(Martínez-Galán et al., 2001) and GABAB receptors (López-Bendito et al., 2002
). Here, we have shown that virtually all CajalRetzius cells in the postnatal rat expressed mGluR1
postnatally, whereas mGluR5 was not detected in these cells during postnatal development. Furthermore, mGluR1
in Cajal Retzius cells is present on extrasynaptic and perisynaptic plasma membrane sites, similar to the localization of mGluR1
in other cell types in adulthood or during development (Luján et al., 1996
; Liu et al., 1998
; Alvarez et al., 2000
; López-Bendito et al., 2001
). Interestingly, during late prenatal development, a subpopulation of CajalRetzius cells does express mGluR5, whereas we were not able to detect mGluR1
before birth in either the neocortex or hippocampus. The non-overlapping temporal mGluR5 and mGluR1
expression in CajalRetzius cells during prenatal (mGluR5) and postnatal (mGluR1
) development suggests a switch in the expression of these group I mGluRs in a small population of these cells.
The spatio-temporal expression of group I mGluRs reported here in the marginal zone/layer 1 may be a crucial mechanism in evoking different Ca2+ dynamics, which is thought to play a role in the regulation of gene expression and control of developmental events. Glutamate activation of mGluR1 and mGluR5 evokes non-oscillatory and oscillatory intracellular Ca2+ signals, respectively (Kawabata et al., 1996). Recent studies have found that developing cortical neurons exhibit calcium oscillations in response to direct activation of mGluR5 (Flint et al., 1999
). These data are consistent with our previous results, in which we demonstrated that in mouse, intracellular Ca2+ level increases in layer I cells were non-oscillatory, also showing that CajalRetzius cells respond to group I mGluR agonists (Martínez-Galán et al., 2001).
Activation of group I mGluRs induces phosphoinositide hydrolysis, with subsequent formation of diacylglycerol and inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate, activation of protein kinase C and mobilization of Ca2+ from intracellular stores (Nakanishi et al., 1994; Pin and Duvoisin, 1995
; Fagni et al., 2000
). Alterations in intracellular Ca2+ are involved in many aspects of development, plasticity and neurotoxicologic processes. Thus, it is possible that cortical mGluR5 activation may result in elevation of internal Ca2+ levels, which may be associated with dendritic growth. This is supported by the fact that PI hydrolysis associated with group I mGluRs activation is enhanced during early postnatal development (Sladeczek et al., 1985
; Nicoletti et al., 1986
; Schoepp and Hillman, 1990
; Sortino et al., 1991
; Romano et al., 1996
).
In general, the data presented here indicate that the group-I-mediated intracellular signaling mechanism operating through PI hydrolysis and mobilization of intracellular Ca2+ is developmentally regulated in the cerebral cortex. This mechanism may be important in selecting and stabilizing afferents in a layer-dependent manner and it may be supported by the finding that mGluR1 is involved in the regression of supernumerary climbing fibre synapses in the cerebellum (Kano et al., 1997; López-Bendito et al., 2001
). The enrichment of mGluR5 in neuropil of different cortical layers in the developing neocortex and hippocampus suggests an involvement of the receptor in morphogenesis. Although there is an absence of CNS structural abnormalities in mice deficient in mGluR5, these animals show abnormal synaptic function (Lu et al., 1997
).
Differential Localization of Group I mGluRs during Development
The expression and cellular localization of mGluR1 and mGluR5 changed during pre- and postnatal development. Both receptors were found in neuropil and in neocortical and hippocampal neuronal somata; however, the level of receptor expression depended on the developmental stage studied. Thus, during late prenatal development, mGluR1
was mainly found in neuropil, while mGluR5 was found in somata. In contrast, during postnatal development mGluR1
was mainly found in neuronal somata, whereas mGluR5 was localized in neuropil. In the developing and adult neocortex and hippocampus, mGluR1
appeared to be expressed solely in non-pyramidal neurons, whereas mGluR5 was expressed by both pyramidal and non-pyramidal neurons. These results are consistent with previous adult studies (Baude et al., 1993
; Luján et al., 1996
; Petralia et al., 1997
; Cauli et al., 2000
; Stinehelfer et al., 2000
). Virtually all mGluR1
-immunoreactive neurons in adult neocortex and hippocampus were GABAergic interneurons (Baude et al., 1993
; Cauli et al., 2000
; Stinehelfer et al., 2000
). In neocortex, mGluR1
was expressed by specific subclasses of GABAergic neurons, mainly somatostatin-, calretinin-, calbindin- and VIP-positive neurons (Cauli et al., 2000
; Stinehelfer et al., 2000
). However, in the hippocampus mGluR1
was mainly expressed in somatostatin- (Baude et al., 1993
) and in VIP-positive interneurons (Ferraguti et al., 2001
). The morphology and distribution of mGluR1
-immunoreactive interneurons found in the present study seems to indicate that such is also the case during development, though additional double-labeling experiments using different interneuron markers are needed to confirm that.
Previous studies have shown that mGluR1 and mGluR5 are mainly localized postsynaptically in several brain regions, including the cerebral cortex (Martin et al., 1992
; Shigemoto et al., 1992
, 1993
; Baude et al., 1993
; Fotushi et al., 1993; Grandes et al., 1994
; Kharazia et al., 1995
; Romano et al., 1995
; van den Pol et al., 1995
; Godwin et al., 1996
; Luján et al., 1996
, 1997
; Vidyanszky et al., 1996; Negyessy et al., 1997; Liu et al., 1998
; Muñoz et al., 1999
; Alvarez et al., 2000
; Martínez-Galán et al., 2001). This pattern of group I mGluR expression is consistent with the developmental pattern described in this study. However, our data differ from a recent developmental study in the somatosensory cortex that showed a strong mGluR1
neuropilar staining in all cortical layers (Muñoz et al., 1999
). This discrepancy may be explained by the use of different antibodies against distinct sequences of the receptor; which would lead to different patterns of labeling.
In addition to neuronal labeling, mGluR5 has also been localized in astrocytic cell bodies in the cerebral cortex (Romano et al., 1995; Muñoz et al., 1999
), thalamus (Liu et al., 1998
) and hypothalamus (van den Pol et al., 1995
), as well as in axon terminals (Romano et al., 1995
; van den Pol et al., 1995
). In this study, mGluR5 immunoreactivity was not detected in glial processes at any developmental age, which is consistent with previous studies that used the same antiserum (Shigemoto et al., 1993
; Luján et al., 1996
, 1997
). Furthermore, we found no evidence for the presence of presynaptic mGluR5 in the cortex (Shigemoto et al., 1997
) during development.
The current view of the subcellular distribution of group I mGluRs in the CNS is mainly based on data obtained in the adult cerebral cortex and cerebellum (Nusser et al., 1994; Luján et al., 1996
, 1997
). Those studies showed that mGluR1
and mGluR5 were found at the edges of asymmetrical postsynaptic specialization, which has also been recently confirmed in other brain regions and in several species (Hanson and Smith, 1999
; Alvarez et al., 2000
; Hubert and Smith, 2001
). Our findings confirm these results in the cerebral cortex during development. Immunogold particles for mGluR1
and mGluR5 were frequently found perisynaptically at putative glutamatergic synapses and also localized extrasynaptically along the plasma membrane. The receptors were not significantly associated with GABAergic synapses. This localization pattern is consistent with recent developmental studies in the cerebellum and thalamus using comparable methods (Liu et al., 1998
; Petralia et al., 1998
; López-Bendito et al., 2002
). However, group I mGluRs have recently been localized in the postsynaptic membrane specialization of GABAergic synapses established by striatal terminals (Hanson and Smith, 1999
; Hubert and Smith, 2001
). The lack of mGluR immunoreactivity in the main body of asymmetric synapses might arise from inability of the antibody to reach the epitope. The consistency of the perisynaptic localization in asymmetric synapses using different antibodies, techniques, species and developmental stages suggests that is unlikely to be the case, but rather represents a genuine phenomenon in the CNS for group I mGluRs. This perisynaptic localization described throughout development may account for the fact that slow group I mGluRs are activated only after high-frequency stimulation (Charpak and Gahwiler, 1991
; McCormick and von Krosigk, 1992
; Golshani et al., 1998
).
It is clear that mGluR1 and mGluR5 expression is differentially regulated. These regulatory systems control the differential distribution of the receptor subtypes on the plasma membrane of cortical neurons. The differential expression is consistent with recent electrophysiological studies demonstrating that mGluR1 and mGluR5 differentially regulate CA1 pyramidal cell function in the hippocampus (Mannaioni et al., 2001
). Together, these studies suggest that a differential distribution of group I mGluRs in a cortical neuronal population correlate with distinct functions. Additional studies are needed to characterize the functional roles of the two group I mGluRs that will correlate with the anatomical observations reported here.
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