Immunoreactivity for multiple GABA transporters (GAT-1, GAT-2, GAT-3) in the gerbil pineal gland

In order to further elucidate the role of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) within the mammalian pineal gland, an immunocytochemical study was performed aimed at providing information on the occurrence and localization of the plasmalemmal GABA transporters GAT-1-3 in the gerbil pineal organ. Whereas all three transporter subtypes were regularly present in this endocrine tissue, their cellular distribution differed. The analysis of serial semi-thin sections showed that pinealocytes as well as interstitial glial cells contain immunocytochemically detectable amounts of GAT proteins, indicating that both pineal parenchymal cell types participate in GABA reuptake. These results lend additional support to the hypothesis that GABA serves important physiological functions in the pineal gland. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.