Immunocytochemical localization of non-NMDA ionotropic excitatory amino acid receptor subunits in human neocortex

The distribution of immunocytochemically localized subunits that comprise ionotropic non-NMDA excitatory amino acid receptors was examined in human frontal, parietal and temporal association neocortex. AMPA/kainate receptor subunits were identified using a monoclonal antibody (3A11) that recognizes an epitope common to GluR2 and GluR4 [GluR2(4)], as well as polyclonal antisera that recognize GluR2 and GluR3 (GluR2/3). Kainate receptor subunits were identified using a monoclonal antibody (4F5) that recognizes an epitope common to GluR5/6/7. For all three antibodies used, labeling was observed in a large number of neurons throughout the human association neocortex with the highest immunoreactivity present in pyramidal-like neurons, a cellular pattern largely similar to that observed in the monkey neocortex. These data demonstrate the cellular localization patterns for some non-NMDA receptor subunits in human neocortex, details upon which further studies on the roles of these subunits in human neurological diseases can be based.