Regional and laminar distribution of receptors for acetylcholine in the rat brain

The present dataset provides the quantitative regional and laminar distribution of key molecules in signal transfer, namely the muscarinic acetylcholine M₁, M₂ and M₃ receptors as well as the nicotinic acetylcholine α₄β₂ receptor, in five selected rostrocaudal levels of the rat brain. The receptors were visualized by means of quantitative *in vitro* receptor autoradiography and the selective tritiated ligands pirenzepine, oxotremorine-M, 4-DAMP and epibatidine. The high spatial resolution of this method enables quantification of receptor densities in anatomically identifiable cortical structures as detailed as the hippocampal regions and layers, or subcortical structures such as amygdalar nuclei.