Cajal-Retzius cells in early postnatal mouse cortex selectively express functional metabotropic glutamate receptors

Glutamate receptors have been linked to the regulation of several developmental events in the CNS. By using cortical slices of early postnatal mice, we show that in layer I cells, glutamate produces intracellular calcium ([Ca2+](i)) elevations mediated by ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). The contribution of mGluRs to these responses was demonstrated by application of tACPD, an agonist to groups I and II mGluRs, which evoked [Ca2+](i) increases that could be reversibly blocked by MCPG, an antagonist to groups I and II mGluRs. In the absence of extracellular Ca2+, repetitive applications of tACPD or quisqualate, an agonist to group I mGluRs, elicited decreasing [Ca2+](i) responses that were restored by refilling a thapsigargin-sensitive Ca2+ store. The use of specific group I mGluR agonists CHPG and DHPG indicated that the functional mGluR in layer I was of the mGluR1 subtype. Subtype specific antibodies confirmed the presence of mGlur1 alpha, but not mGluR5, in Cajal-Retzius (Reelin-immunoreactive) neurons.