Expression of glycine receptor subunit mRNAs in the rat cochlear nucleus.

The distribution of glycine receptor subunit mRNAs in the cochlear nucleus of the adult rat was examined using radioactive in situ hybridization. Expression was compared among six cell types by counting silver grains over somata. Expression of the immature alpha2 subunit was not above the threshold for detection in any neurons. Levels of expression of mature subunits varied among different cell types. Spherical bushy, small cell cap/shell neurons and fusiform cells had high expression of glycine receptor mRNA for alpha1, alpha 3 and beta subunits. Octopus cells and corn cells had high expression for alpha 3 and beta subunits, and only moderate expression for alpha1 subunit. Granule cells located between the dorsal and ventral cochlear nucleus had moderate expression of alpha 3 and beta subunits and no detectable alpha1 expression. These patterns of expression predict differences in glycinergic pharmacological properties between the cochlear nucleus neurons.