BACKGROUND: Glutamate acid ionotropic receptor N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) takes part in long-term potentiation, thereby influencing the process of learning and memory.OBJECTIVE: To verify expression of NMDA 2A/B and 2B receptors in the anterior thalamic nucleus and subieulum complex of rats.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A single-sample observation was performed at Department of Anatomy in Dalian Mcdical University (Dalian, Liaoning, China) from April to September in 2007.MATERIALS: Ten adult Wistar rats were used for this study, as well as rabbit anti-NMDA 2A/B and 2Bantibodies.METHODS: The rats were anesthetized and perfused, followed by brain resection and coronal sectioning of the brain tissue. A 1:3 series was selected for immunohistochemistry, using antibodies specific to NMDA 2A/B and 2B receptors. Photos were taken using the Nikon image analysis system.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Expression and distribution of immunohistochemistry staining of NMDA 2A/B and 2B receptor subunits.RESULTS: There were a large number of NMDA 2A/B and 2B receptor-positive neurons distributed throughout the anterior dorsal thalamic nucleus. In the anterior ventral thalamic nucleus, distribution of positive neurons was rare, staining intensity was lighter, and cell bodies were smaller compared with the anterior dorsal thalamic nucleus. In the subiculum complex, staining intensity of NMDA 2A/B and 2B-positive neurons was weakest in the molecular layer and stronger in the pyramidal layer, in particular the region with large cell bodies adjacent to the molecular layer. In the multiform layer, more positive neurons of various sizes were detected.CONCLUSION: NMDA 2A/B and 2B receptor subunits were richly distributed in the anterior thalamic nucleus, with a small difference existing between the anterior dorsal nucleus and anterior ventral nucleus.These neurons were also differentially distributed within the three layers of the subiculum complex.