Characteristics and distribution of muscimol binding sites in cat visual cortex.

In vitro receptor binding techniques were used to study the characteristics and distribution of [3H]muscimol binding sites in cat visual cortex. [3H]muscimol, a specific GABA agonist, labeled a single population of binding sites with a Kd of 18 nM. Specific binding was saturable, reversible, and was blocked by the addition of GABA or (+)-bicuculline. Autoradiograms revealed that the highest density of [3H]muscimol binding sites occurred in cortical layer IV. Little variation between the various visual cortical areas was noted in contrast to marked regional heterogeneity within subcortical structures.