Comparison of NMDA receptor subunits expression in postnatal hippocampus and hippocampal organotypic tissues cultures in rats

Objective : To compare the expression changes of NMDA receptor subunits (NRs) NR1, NR2A, NR2B in long-term hippocampal organotypic tissues cultures (HOTC) and postnatal development of hippocampus in rats, providing morphological data for further study of HOTC. Methods : Immunohistochemical reaction, hippocampal organotypic tissue cultures and computer-assisted image analyses were used. Results : The expression of NR1 and NR2B was similar between HOTC and postnatal development, and it was early and late in CA1, CA3, and DG subfields, but the range of fluctuation was not similar; the expression of NR2A was early and late in the HOTC; it was early decrease and late increase in the postnatal development. The expression of NR1, NR2A, NR2B hase no significant variance in both of the similar period and CA1, CAS, DG subfields. Conclusion:The expression intensity of NR1 and NR2B is similar in each subfield of the HOTC and postnatal hippocampus of rat in P3w/C2w.