Increased numbers of GABAergic neurons occur in the inferior colliculus of an audiogenic model of genetic epilepsy.

The numbers of GABAergic neurons as determined by GAD immunocytochemistry and total neurons as determined from Nissl preparations were counted and classified at the light microscopic level in the inferior colliculus (IC) of the genetically epilepsy-prone rat (GEPR) and the non-epileptic Sprague-Dawley (SD) strain of rat. GAD-positive neurons are abundant in the IC in all 3 subdivisions. Several sizes of multipolar neurons as well as medium-sized bipolar or fusiform neurons are GAD-positive. GAD-positive punctate structures that were interpreted to be axon terminals and transversely-sectioned dendrites and preterminal axons are abundant in the IC of both the GEPR and SD. A dramatic increase in the number of GAD-positive neurons occurs in the GEPR as compared to the SD. This increase is most evident in the middle of the rostrocaudal extent of the IC. Although the increase is statistically significant in all subdivisions of the IC, it is most pronounced in the central nucleus, especially the ventral lateral portion. Within the central nucleus, the increase in the number of GAD-positive neurons is due to a selective increase in the small (200%) and medium (90%) cell body size populations (10-15 micron and 15-25 micron in diameter, respectively). Concomitant with this increase in the number of GAD-positive neurons, an increase in total numbers of neurons occurs as determined from Nissl preparations. A 100% increase in the number of small neurons and a 30% increase in the number of medium-sized neurons occur in the GEPR as compared to the SD rat. The proportion of GAD-positive neurons to total neurons is also increased in the GEPR. Approximately 25% of the neurons in the IC in SD rat are GAD-positive, while about 35% of the neurons in the GEPR are GAD-positive. These data demonstrate an anatomical difference in the IC of the GEPR as compared to the SD which appears to be preferential for the GABAergic system.