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Distribution of the glutamate transporters GLT-1 (SLC1A2) and GLAST (SLC1A3) in peripheral organs

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Abstract

The glutamate transporters GLT-1 and GLAST are widely expressed in astrocytes in the brain where they fulfill important functions during glutamatergic neurotransmission. The present study examines their distribution in peripheral organs using in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunocytochemistry. GLAST was found to be more widely distributed than GLT-1. GLAST was expressed primarily in epithelial cells, cells of the macrophage-lineage, lymphocytes, fat cells, interstitial cells, and salivary gland acini. GLT-1 was primarily expressed in glandular tissue, including mammary gland, lacrimal gland, and ducts and acini in salivary glands, but also by perivenous hepatocytes and follicular dendritic cells in spleen and lymph nodes. The findings demonstrate that, although expressed by the same cells in the brain, these two glutamate transporters have different distribution patterns in peripheral tissues and that they fulfill glutamate transport functions apart from glutamatergic neurotransmission in these areas.

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Acknowledgment

We thank Niels Christian Danbolt from the University of Oslo, Norway for providing the antibodies against GLT-1 and GLAST.

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Author notes

  1. Urs V. Berger

    Present address: UB-In Situ, Natick, MA, 01760, USA

  2. Matthias A. Hediger

    Present address: Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Berne, Bühlstrasse 28, 3012, Bern, Switzerland

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Membrane Biology Program and Renal Division, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA

    Urs V. Berger & Matthias A. Hediger

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  1. Urs V. Berger
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  2. Matthias A. Hediger
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Correspondence to Matthias A. Hediger.

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Berger, U.V., Hediger, M.A. Distribution of the glutamate transporters GLT-1 (SLC1A2) and GLAST (SLC1A3) in peripheral organs. Anat Embryol 211, 595–606 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00429-006-0109-x

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