Neuronal localization of glutamate receptor subunits in the basolateral amygdala

Antibodies to the NMDAR1 glutamate receptor subunit and the GluR1 and GluR2/3 subunits of the AMPA glutamate receptor were used to localize these receptor components in the basolateral amygdala (ABL) of the rat and monkey. A similar localization pattern was observed in both species. Pyramidal neurons exhibited high levels of NMDAR1 and GluR2/3 immunoreactivity (ir), but low levels of GluR1-ir. Some non-pyramidal cells exhibited high levels of NMDAR1-ir or GluR1-ir, but none exhibited significant levels of GluR2/3-ir. This differential localization of receptor subunits suggests that glutamate receptors will exhibit specific functional properties in distinct subpopulations of ABL neurons.