Sulcogyral variation in NMDA receptor 2A/B subunit immunoreactivity in human brain

NMDA receptors (NR) are important in many neurological processes. Using a large series of human brain tissue, we show that the distribution of NR2A/B immunoreactivity varies according to position along a gyrus. For pyramidal neurons in laminae II and III, immunoreactivity is most marked at gyral crown and gyral lips, diminishes along sulcal wall, and is barely detectable in sulcal floor cortex. In contrast, in some cases, immunoreactivity in laminae V and VI pyramidal neurons shows the reverse pattern. Neurofilament and calretinin immunoreactivity do not show this phenomenon. The findings suggest novel functional regionalization at the sulcogyral level in normal human brain.