Localization of AMPA glutamate receptor subunits in subpopulations of non-pyramidal neurons in the rat basolateral amygdala.

A two-color immunoperoxidase technique was used to investigate the localization of GluR1 and GluR2/3 alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole (AMPA) glutamate receptor subunits in subpopulations of non-pyramidal neurons in the rat basolateral amygdala. Antibodies to neuropeptide Y (NPY), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and calcium binding proteins were used to mark three distinct subsets of non-pyramidal cells. Only non-pyramidal neurons containing the calcium binding proteins parvalbumin (PV) and calbindin D-28k (CB) exhibited robust GluR1-like immunoreactivity (GluR1-ir). Light GluR1-ir was observed in some neurons with NPY-ir and VIP-ir, as well as in some pyramidal cells. Only pyramidal cells exhibited robust GluR2/3-ir. No significant amount of GluR2/3-ir was seen in any of the three main classes of non-pyramidal cells. These findings indicate that in the rat basolateral amygdala GluR2/3-ir is found primarily in pyramidal neurons whereas GluR1-ir is found mainly in non-pyramidal neurons that contain PV or CB.