Distribution of GABAergic Interneurons and the GABAergic Transporter GAT1 in the Layers of the Neocortex during the Neonatal Period in Rats.

The distribution of GABA-containing neurons and the intensity of immunohistochemical labeling of the GABA transporter GAT₁ were studied in different layers of the neocortex during the neonatal period in rats. At the initial stages of the neonatal period, in layers II—III and VI, there is a high number of neurons containing GABA, which significantly decreases by the end of the neonatal period, and inhibitory interneurons are distributed approximately evenly in all layers. By the end of the neonatal period, the level of immunohistochemical GAT₁ labeling increases significantly, which may indicate an increase in the role of synaptic inhibitory neurotransmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]