Alpha isoform of calciumcalmodulin dependent protein kinase II (CAM II kinase-α) restricted to excitatory synapses in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus

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Abstract
PRE-EMBEDDING immunoperoxidase staining for CAM II kinase-α and post-embedding immunogold staining for glutamate and GABA, were used to reveal the subcellular distribution of CAM II kinase-α at transmittercharacterized synapses in the CA1 region of rat hippocampus. Immunoelectron microscopy showed that the majority of CAM II kinase-α-immunostained neuronal profiles were dendritic spines presumably derived from pyramidal cells. CAM II kinase-α immunoreactivity was mainly localized in postsynaptic densities associated with glutamatergic axon terminals. No CAM II kinase-α immunoreactivity was detected in GABA-immunoreactive profiles or at GABAergic synapses. This study provides morphological evidence that CAM II kinase-α is involved only in excitatory neuronal transmission in the CA1 region. The enzyme is unlikely to be involved in plasticity at GABA synapses.