Development of glycine receptor distribution in the lateral superior olive of the gerbil.

The concentration and relative distribution of glycine receptors were determined for the gerbil lateral superior olive at several postnatal ages. Quantitative autoradiographic techniques revealed significant 3H-strychnine binding to all regions of the nucleus from 4 to 90 d. However, during the first 20 d, a nonuniform distribution of binding emerged, such that the greatest concentration of receptor was found in the high-frequency region of the nucleus. An analysis of neuron packing density showed an approximate 2-fold distribution along the same axis at all ages. This evidence is consistent with an elimination of glycine receptors in the ventral region of the lateral superior olive as maturation progresses.