Fig. 4

Semi-quantitative Western blotting for proteins involved in GABA synthesis: GAD67 (a) and GAD65 (b). GAD67 expression increased with age and was not different in BD animals as compared to age-matched normal controls. Nevertheless, the increase between month 4 and 6 observed in BD animals was not present in normal animals. GAD65 expression also increased with age, with a significantly slower rate in BD as compared to normal animals in both regions of area 17, achieving the highest level at 6 instead of 4 months. Additionally, in the central region of 4BD kittens GAD65 did not show a developmental increase, maintaining a lower level as compared to the 4N group. Together all observations are indicative for a delay in the development of normal cortical inhibition levels. Asterisks above bars denote significant differences (P < 0.05) for a given region between age groups of a given condition (normal or BD). Numbers above BD-related bars denote the % statistical difference between BD and age-matched normal control groups (P < 0.05). Results are means with ± SD