Expression of inorganic phosphate/vesicular glutamate transporters (BNPI/VGLUT1 and DNPI/VGLUT2) in the cerebellum and precerebellar nuclei of the rat

Abstract

Expression of inorganic phosphate/vesicular glutamate transporters (BNPI/VGLUT1 and DNPI/VGLUT2) was studied in the cerebellum and precerebellar nuclei of rats using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. DNPI/VGLUT2-stained mossy fibers were principally seen in the vermis (lobules I and VIII–X) and flocculus, whereas BNPI/VGLUT1-stained mossy fibers were localized throughout the cortex. Some vermal and floccular mossy fibers were stained for both transporters. High levels of DNPI/VGLUT2 mRNA hybridization signals were demonstrated in many neurons throughout the vestibular nuclear complex as well as the lateral reticular, external cuneate, inferior olivary and deep cerebellar nuclei. Significant BNPI/VGLUT1 mRNA signals were demonstrated in the lateral reticular nucleus and vestibular nuclear complex but not in the inferior olivary nucleus, indicating that climbing fibers have DNPI/VGLUT2 only. These results show that DNPI/VGLUT2 is expressed preferentially to vestibulo-, reticulo- and cuneocerebellar neurons, some of which also possess BNPI/VGLUT1, suggesting some differential and co-operative functions between DNPI/VGLUT2 and BNPI/VGLUT1 in the cerebellum.