Receptor binding of glutamate in the striatum of rats differing in learning capacity.

A comparative investigation has been carried out for the first time of the receptor binding of glutamate with synaptic membranes and coarse fractions of the postsynaptic enlargements isolated from the striatum of rats differing in their capacity to develop an alimentary instrumental reflex. It was demonstrated that the number of that glutamate binding sites on the postsynaptic enlargements isolated from the striatum of rats capable of rapidly developing an alimentary instrumental reflex was increased as compared with animals not subjected to training. This relationship is maintained two months after the termination of training.