Expression of inhibitory glycine receptors in postnatal rat cerebral cortex.

The developmental expression of inhibitory glycine receptors was analyzed in postnatal rat cerebral cortex using the specific monoclonal antibody, MAb 4a. This antibody defines an epitope common to all known glycine receptor alpha-subunits. At birth, high levels of immunoreactivity were found, which transiently increased during the second postnatal week, but subsequently declined to low adult levels. Biochemical analysis of the MAb 4a antigen from parietal areas indicates that cortical glycine receptors correspond to the neonatal receptor isoform previously identified in spinal cord of newborn animals. Immunocytochemistry showed that, within 2 weeks after birth, MAb 4a-reactive glycine rece…