Rat hippocampal neurons maintain their own GABAergic synaptic transmission in culture

1999 ◽  
Vol 262 (3) ◽  
pp. 151-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
I.V Melnick ◽  
M.A Chvanov ◽  
P.V Belan
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Gabaergic Synaptic Transmission

Role of Presynaptic L-Type Ca2+ Channels in GABAergic Synaptic Transmission in Cultured Hippocampal Neurons

1999 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 1225-1230 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimmo Jensen ◽  
Morten Skovgaard Jensen ◽  
John D. C. Lambert
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Transmitter Release ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Tetanic Stimulation ◽  
Vesicle Release ◽  
Gabaergic Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Cultured Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
40 Hz

Role of presynaptic L-type Ca2+ channels in GABAergic synaptic transmission in cultured hippocampal neurons. Using dual whole cell patch-clamp recordings of monosynaptic GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) in cultured rat hippocampal neurons, we have previously demonstrated posttetanic potentiation (PTP) of IPSCs. Tetanic stimulation of the GABAergic neuron leads to accumulation of Ca2+ in the presynaptic terminals. This enhances the probability of GABA-vesicle release for up to 1 min, which underlies PTP. In the present study, we have examined the effect of altering the probability of release on PTP of IPSCs. Baclofen (10 μM), which depresses presynaptic Ca2+ entry through N- and P/Q-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (VDCCs), caused a threefold greater enhancement of PTP than did reducing [Ca2+]o to 1.2 mM, which causes a nonspecific reduction in Ca2+ entry. This finding prompted us to investigate whether presynaptic L-type VDCCs contribute to the Ca2+ accumulation in the boutons during spike activity. The L-type VDCC antagonist, nifedipine (10 μM), had no effect on single IPSCs evoked at 0.2 Hz but reduced the PTP evoked by a train of 40 Hz for 2 s by 60%. Another L-type VDCC antagonist, isradipine (5 μM), similarly inhibited PTP by 65%. Both L-type VDCC blockers also depressed IPSCs during the stimulation (i.e., they increased tetanic depression). The L-type VDCC “agonist” (−)BayK 8644 (4 μM) had no effect on PTP evoked by a train of 40 Hz for 2 s, which probably saturated the PTP process, but enhanced PTP evoked by a train of 1 s by 91%. In conclusion, the results indicate that L-type VDCCs do not participate in low-frequency synchronous transmitter release, but contribute to presynaptic Ca2+ accumulation during high-frequency activity. This helps maintain vesicle release during tetanic stimulation and also enhances the probability of transmitter release during the posttetanic period, which is manifest as PTP. Involvement of L-type channels in these processes represents a novel presynaptic regulatory mechanism at fast CNS synapses.

Selective Synaptic Actions of Thiopental and Its Enantiomers

2002 ◽  
Vol 96 (4) ◽  
pp. 884-892 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Dickinson ◽  
Sara L. M. de Sousa ◽  
William R. Lieb ◽  
Nicholas P. Franks
Keyword(s):  
Charge Transfer ◽  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Excitatory Synapses ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
General Anesthetic ◽  
Glutamatergic Synapses ◽  
Conflicting Evidence ◽  
Gabaergic Synapses ◽  
Gabaergic Synaptic Transmission

Background There is conflicting evidence concerning the extent to which the intravenous general anesthetic thiopental acts by enhancing inhibitory gamma-aminobutyric acid-mediated (GABAergic) synaptic transmission or by inhibiting excitatory glutamatergic transmission. Yet there are remarkably few studies on the effects of thiopental on functional synapses. In addition, the degree of stereoselectivity of thiopental acting at synapses has yet to be tested. Methods The actions of thiopental and its enantiomers on GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses were investigated using voltage clamp techniques on microisland cultures of rat hippocampal neurons, a preparation that avoids the confounding effects of complex neuronal networks. Results Racemic thiopental markedly enhanced the charge transfer at GABAergic synapses without significantly affecting the peak of the postsynaptic current. At a surgically relevant concentration (25 microm), charge transfer was increased by approximately 230%. However, even at twice this concentration there were no significant effects on glutamatergic postsynaptic currents. At GABAergic synapses, thiopental acted stereoselectively, with the S(-) enantiomer being approximately twice as effective as the R(+) enantiomer at enhancing charge transfer. Conclusions Thiopental stereoselectively enhances inhibitory GABAergic synaptic transmission in a way that reflects animal potencies, supporting the idea that this is a principal mode of action for this drug. The absence of any effect on glutamatergic synapses at surgically relevant concentrations suggests that the inhibition of these excitatory synapses is not an important factor in producing thiopental general anesthesia.

Possible role of mitochondria in posttetanic potentiation of GABAergic synaptic transmission in rat neocortical cell cultures

Synapse ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maksim V. Storozhuk ◽  
Svetlana Y. Ivanova ◽  
Pavel M. Balaban ◽  
Platon G. Kostyuk
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Cell Cultures ◽  
Posttetanic Potentiation ◽  
Gabaergic Synaptic Transmission

Two Mechanisms That Raise Free Intracellular Calcium in Rat Hippocampal Neurons During Hypoosmotic and Low NaCl Treatment

2000 ◽  
Vol 83 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aren J. Borgdorff ◽  
George G. Somjen ◽  
Wytse J. Wadman
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Intracellular Calcium ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Cell Swelling ◽  
Tissue Slices ◽  
Extracellular Medium ◽  
Calcium Activity ◽  
Hippocampal Pyramidal Neurons

Previous studies have shown that exposing hippocampal slices to low osmolarity (πo) or to low extracellular NaCl concentration ([NaCl]o) enhances synaptic transmission and also causes interstitial calcium ([Ca2+]o) to decrease. Reduction of [Ca2+]o suggests cellular uptake and could explain the potentiation of synaptic transmission. We measured intracellular calcium activity ([Ca2+]i) using fluorescent indicator dyes. In CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons in tissue slices, lowering πo by ∼70 mOsm caused “resting” [Ca2+]i as well as synaptically or directly stimulated transient increases of calcium activity (Δ[Ca2+]i) to transiently decrease and then to increase. In dissociated cells, lowering πo by ∼70 mOsm caused [Ca2+]i to almost double on average from 83 to 155 nM. The increase of [Ca2+]i was not significantly correlated with hypotonic cell swelling. Isoosmotic (mannitol- or sucrose-substituted) lowering of [NaCl]o, which did not cause cell swelling, also raised [Ca2+]i. Substituting NaCl with choline-Cl or Na-methyl-sulfate did not affect [Ca2+]i. In neurons bathed in calcium-free medium, lowering πo caused a milder increase of [Ca2+]i, which was correlated with cell swelling, but in the absence of external Ca2+, isotonic lowering of [NaCl]o triggered only a brief, transient response. We conclude that decrease of extracellular ionic strength (i.e., in both low πo and low [NaCl]o) causes a net influx of Ca2+ from the extracellular medium whereas cell swelling, or the increase in membrane tension, is a signal for the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document