PBW filtration and bases for symplectic Lie algebras

We study the PBW filtration on the highest weight representations $V(\la)$ of $\msp_{2n}$. This filtration is induced by the standard degree filtration on $U(\n^-)$. We give a description of the associated graded $S(\n^-)$-module $gr V(\la)$ in terms of generators and relations. We also construct a basis of $gr V(\la)$. As an application we derive a graded combinatorial formula for the character of $V(\la)$ and obtain a new class of bases of the modules $V(\la)$.