The Transmembrane Sodium Gradient Influences Ambient GABA Concentration by Altering the Equilibrium of GABA Transporters

2006 ◽  
Vol 96 (5) ◽  
pp. 2425-2436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanming Wu ◽  
Wengang Wang ◽  
George B. Richerson
Keyword(s):  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Gaba Release ◽  
Synaptic Cleft ◽  
Tonic Inhibition ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Sodium Removal ◽  
Gaba Transporters ◽  
Sodium Gradient ◽  
Ambient Gaba ◽  
Tonic Current

Tonic inhibition is widely believed to be caused solely by “spillover” of GABA that escapes the synaptic cleft and activates extrasynaptic GABAA receptors. However, an exclusively vesicular source is not consistent with the observation that tonic inhibition can still occur after blocking vesicular release. Here, we made patch-clamp recordings from neurons in rat hippocampal cultures and measured the tonic current that was blocked by bicuculline or gabazine. During perforated patch recordings, the tonic GABA current was decreased by the GAT1 antagonist SKF-89976a. Zero calcium solution did not change the amount of tonic current, despite a large reduction in vesicular GABA release. Perturbations that would be expected to alter the transmembrane sodium gradient influenced the tonic current. For example, in zero calcium Ringer, TTX (which can decrease cytosolic [Na+]) reduced tonic current, whereas veratridine (which can increase cytosolic [Na+]) increased tonic current. Likewise, removal of extracellular sodium led to a large increase in tonic current. The increases in tonic current induced by veratridine and sodium removal were completely blocked by SKF89976a. When these experiments were repeated in hippocampal slices, similar results were obtained except that a GAT1- and GAT3-independent nonvesicular source(s) of GABA was found to contribute to the tonic current. We conclude that multiple sources can contribute to ambient GABA, including spillover and GAT1 reversal. The source of GABA release may be conceptually less important in determining the amount of tonic inhibition than the factors that control the equilibrium of GABA transporters.

Vigabatrin Induces Tonic Inhibition Via GABA Transporter Reversal Without Increasing Vesicular GABA Release

2003 ◽  
Vol 89 (4) ◽  
pp. 2021-2034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanming Wu ◽  
Wengang Wang ◽  
George B. Richerson
Keyword(s):  
Patch Clamp ◽  
Gaba Receptors ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Gaba Release ◽  
Tonic Inhibition ◽  
Gabaergic Inhibition ◽  
Gaba Transporter ◽  
Whole Cell ◽  
Ambient Gaba

Two forms of GABAergic inhibition coexist: fast synaptic neurotransmission and tonic activation of GABA receptors due to ambient GABA. The mechanisms regulating ambient GABA have not been well defined. Here we examined the role of the GABA transporter in the increase in ambient [GABA] induced by the anticonvulsant vigabatrin. Pretreatment of cultured rat hippocampal neurons with vigabatrin (100 μM) for 2–5 days led to a large increase in ambient [GABA] that was measured as the change in holding current induced by bicuculline during patch-clamp recordings. In contrast, there was a decrease in the frequency of spontaneous miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents mIPSCs with no change in their amplitude distribution, and a decrease in the magnitude of IPSCs evoked by presynaptic stimulation during paired recordings. The increase in ambient [GABA] was not prevented by blockade of vesicular GABA release with tetanus toxin or removal of extracellular calcium. During perforated patch recordings, the increase in ambient [GABA] was prevented by blocking the GABA transporter, indicating that the GABA transporter was continuously operating in reverse and releasing GABA. In contrast, blocking the GABA transporter increased ambient [GABA] during whole cell patch-clamp recordings unless GABA and Na+ were added to the recording electrode solution, indicating that whole cell recordings can lead to erroneous conclusions about the role of the GABA transporter in control of ambient GABA. We conclude that the equilibrium for the GABA transporter is a major determinant of ambient [GABA] and tonic GABAergic inhibition. We propose that fast GABAergic neurotransmission and tonic inhibition can be independently modified and play complementary roles in control of neuronal excitability.

scholarly journals Rapid regulation of tonic GABA currents in cultured rat hippocampal neurons

2013 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
pp. 803-812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher B. Ransom ◽  
Wucheng Tao ◽  
Yuanming Wu ◽  
William J. Spain ◽  
George B. Richerson
Keyword(s):  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Brain Slices ◽  
Reversal Potential ◽  
Gaba Release ◽  
Tonic Inhibition ◽  
Concanamycin A ◽  
Voltage Dependent ◽  
Tonic Current ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Time Frames

Subacute and chronic changes in tonic GABAergic inhibition occur in human and experimental epilepsy. Less is known about how tonic inhibition is modulated over shorter time frames (seconds). We measured endogenous tonic GABA currents from cultured rat hippocampal neurons to evaluate how they are affected by 1) transient increases in extracellular GABA concentration ([GABA]), 2) transient postsynaptic depolarization, and 3) depolarization of presynaptic cells. Transient increases in [GABA] (1 μM) reduced tonic currents; this reduction resulted from GABA-induced shifts in the reversal potential for GABA currents ( EGABA). Transient depolarization of postsynaptic neurons reversed the effects of exogenous GABA and potentiated tonic currents. The voltage-dependent potentiation of tonic GABA currents was independent of EGABA shifts and represented postdepolarization potentiation (PDP), an intrinsic GABAA receptor property (Ransom CB, Wu Y, Richerson GB. J Neurosci 30: 7672–7684, 2010). Inhibition of vesicular GABA release with concanamycin A (ConA) did not affect tonic currents. In ConA-treated cells, transient application of 12 mM K+ to depolarize presynaptic neurons and glia produced a persistent increase in tonic current amplitude. The K+-induced increase in tonic current was reversibly inhibited by SKF89976a (40 μM), indicating that this was caused by nonvesicular GABA release from GABA transporter type 1 (GAT1). Nonvesicular GABA release due to GAT1 reversal also occurred in acute hippocampal brain slices. Our results indicate that tonic GABA currents are rapidly regulated by GABA-induced changes in intracellular Cl− concentration, PDP of extrasynaptic GABAA receptors, and nonvesicular GABA release. These mechanisms may influence tonic inhibition during seizures when neurons are robustly depolarized and extracellular GABA and K+ concentrations are elevated.

scholarly journals Activation of the Tonic GABAC Receptor Current in Retinal Bipolar Cell Terminals by Nonvesicular GABA Release

2009 ◽  
Vol 102 (2) ◽  
pp. 691-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. Jones ◽  
M. J. Palmer
Keyword(s):  
Bipolar Cell ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Gaba Release ◽  
Visual Signal ◽  
Inhibitory Input ◽  
Axon Terminals ◽  
Gaba Transporters ◽  
Concanamycin A ◽  
Vesicular Release ◽  
Tonic Current

Within the second synaptic layer of the retina, bipolar cell (BC) output to ganglion cells is regulated by inhibitory input to BC axon terminals. GABAA receptors (GABAARs) mediate rapid synaptic currents in BC terminals, whereas GABAC receptors (GABACRs) mediate slow evoked currents and a tonic current, which is strongly regulated by GAT-1 GABA transporters. We have used voltage-clamp recordings from BC terminals in goldfish retinal slices to determine the source of GABA for activation of these currents. Inhibition of vesicular release with concanamycin A or tetanus toxin significantly inhibited GABAAR inhibitory postsynaptic currents and glutamate-evoked GABAAR and GABACR currents but did not reduce the tonic GABACR current, which was also not dependent on extracellular Ca2+. The tonic current was strongly potentiated by inhibition of GABA transaminase, under both normal and Ca2+-free conditions, and was activated by exogenous taurine; however inhibition of taurine transport had little effect. The tonic current was unaffected by GAT-2/3 inhibition and was potentiated by GAT-1 inhibition even in the absence of vesicular release, indicating that it is unlikely to be evoked by reversal of GABA transporters or by ambient GABA. In addition, GABA release does not appear to occur via hemichannels or P2X7 receptors. BC terminals therefore exhibit two forms of GABACR-mediated inhibition, activated by vesicular and by nonvesicular GABA release, which are likely to have distinct functions in visual signal processing. The tonic GABACR current in BC terminals exhibits similar properties to tonic GABAAR and glutamate receptor currents in the brain.

GABA Transporter-1 (GAT1)-Deficient Mice: Differential Tonic Activation of GABAA Versus GABAB Receptors in the Hippocampus

2003 ◽  
Vol 90 (4) ◽  
pp. 2690-2701 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimmo Jensen ◽  
Chi-Sung Chiu ◽  
Irina Sokolova ◽  
Henry A. Lester ◽  
Istvan Mody
Keyword(s):  
Gaba Release ◽  
Gabab Receptors ◽  
Acid Decarboxylase ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Gaba Transporter ◽  
Inhibitory Neurotransmitter ◽  
Gaba Transporters ◽  
Gaba Transporter 1 ◽  
Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase 65 ◽  
Deficient Mice

After its release from interneurons in the CNS, the major inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA is taken up by GABA transporters (GATs). The predominant neuronal GABA transporter GAT1 is localized in GABAergic axons and nerve terminals, where it is thought to influence GABAergic synaptic transmission, but the details of this regulation are unclear. To address this issue, we have generated a strain of GAT1-deficient mice. We observed a large increase in a tonic postsynaptic hippocampal GABAA receptor-mediated conductance. There was little or no change in the waveform or amplitude of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) or miniature IPSCs. In contrast, the frequency of quantal GABA release was one-third of wild type (WT), although the densities of GABAA receptors, GABAB receptors, glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 kDa, and vesicular GAT were unaltered. The GAT1-deficient mice lacked a presynaptic GABAB receptor tone, present in WT mice, which reduces the frequency of spontaneous IPSCs. We conclude that GAT1 deficiency leads to enhanced extracellular GABA levels resulting in an overactivation of GABAA receptors responsible for a postsynaptic tonic conductance. Chronically elevated GABA levels also downregulate phasic GABA release and reduce presynaptic signaling via GABAB receptors thus causing an enhanced tonic and a diminished phasic inhibition.

scholarly journals GABA transporters regulate tonic and synaptic GABAA receptor-mediated currents in the suprachiasmatic nucleus neurons

2017 ◽  
Vol 118 (6) ◽  
pp. 3092-3106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Moldavan ◽  
Olga Cravetchi ◽  
Charles N. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Circadian Clock ◽  
Suprachiasmatic Nucleus ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Circadian Period ◽  
Gaba Concentration ◽  
Gaba Transporter ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner ◽  
Gaba Transport ◽  
Gaba Transporters ◽  
Tonic Current

GABA is a principal neurotransmitter in the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) that contributes to intercellular communication between individual circadian oscillators within the SCN network and the stability and precision of the circadian rhythms. GABA transporters (GAT) regulate the extracellular GABA concentration and modulate GABAA receptor (GABAAR)-mediated currents. GABA transport inhibitors were applied to study how GABAAR-mediated currents depend on the expression and function of GAT. Nipecotic acid inhibits GABA transport and induced an inward tonic current in concentration-dependent manner during whole cell patch-clamp recordings from SCN neurons. Application of either the selective GABA transporter 1 (GAT1) inhibitors NNC-711 or SKF-89976A, or the GABA transporter 3 (GAT3) inhibitor SNAP-5114, produced only small changes of the baseline current. Coapplication of GAT1 and GAT3 inhibitors induced a significant GABAAR-mediated tonic current that was blocked by gabazine. GAT inhibitors decreased the amplitude and decay time constant and increased the rise time of spontaneous GABAAR-mediated postsynaptic currents. However, inhibition of GAT did not alter the expression of either GAT1 or GAT3 in the hypothalamus. Thus GAT1 and GAT3 functionally complement each other to regulate the extracellular GABA concentration and GABAAR-mediated synaptic and tonic currents in the SCN. Coapplication of SKF-89976A and SNAP-5114 (50 µM each) significantly reduced the circadian period of Per1 expression in the SCN by 1.4 h. Our studies demonstrate that GAT are important regulators of GABAAR-mediated currents and the circadian clock in the SCN. NEW & NOTEWORTHY In the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the GABA transporters GAT1 and GAT3 are expressed in astrocytes. Inhibition of these GABA transporters increased a tonic GABA current and reduced the circadian period of Per1 expression in SCN neurons. GAT1 and GAT3 showed functional cooperativity: inhibition of one GAT increased the activity but not the expression of the other. Our data demonstrate that GABA transporters are important regulators of GABAA receptor-mediated currents and the circadian clock.

Selective Modulation of Tonic and Phasic Inhibitions in Dentate Gyrus Granule Cells

2002 ◽  
Vol 87 (5) ◽  
pp. 2624-2628 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zoltan Nusser ◽  
Istvan Mody
Keyword(s):  
Dentate Gyrus ◽  
Granule Cells ◽  
Cerebellar Granule Cells ◽  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Tonic Inhibition ◽  
Adult Rats ◽  
Adult Rat ◽  
Phasic Inhibition ◽  
The Mean

In some nerve cells, activation of GABAA receptors by GABA results in phasic and tonic conductances. Transient activation of synaptic receptors generates phasic inhibition, whereas tonic inhibition originates from GABA acting on extrasynaptic receptors, like in cerebellar granule cells, where it is thought to result from the activation of extrasynaptic GABAA receptors with a specific subunit composition (α6βxδ). Here we show that in adult rat hippocampal slices, extracellular GABA levels are sufficiently high to generate a powerful tonic inhibition in δ subunit–expressing dentate gyrus granule cells. In these cells, the mean tonic current is approximately four times larger than that produced by spontaneous synaptic currents occurring at a frequency of ∼10 Hz. Antagonizing the GABA transporter GAT-1 with NO-711 (2.5 μM) selectively enhanced tonic inhibition by 330% without affecting the phasic component. In contrast, by prolonging the decay of inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs), the benzodiazepine agonist zolpidem (0.5 μM) augmented phasic inhibition by 66%, while leaving the mean tonic conductance unchanged. These results demonstrate that a tonic GABAA receptor–mediated conductance can be recorded from dentate gyrus granule cells of adult rats in in vitro slice preparations. Furthermore, we have identified distinct pharmacological tools to selectively modify tonic and phasic inhibitions, allowing future studies to investigate their specific roles in neuronal function.

scholarly journals Control of motor coordination by astrocytic tonic GABA release through modulation of excitation/inhibition balance in cerebellum

2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (19) ◽  
pp. 5004-5009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junsung Woo ◽  
Joo Ok Min ◽  
Dae-Si Kang ◽  
Yoo Sung Kim ◽  
Guk Hwa Jung ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Motor Performance ◽  
Neuronal Excitability ◽  
Motor Coordination ◽  
Granule Cells ◽  
Cerebellar Granule Cells ◽  
Gaba Release ◽  
In Vivo Microdialysis ◽  
Tonic Inhibition

Tonic inhibition in the brain is mediated through an activation of extrasynaptic GABAA receptors by the tonically released GABA, resulting in a persistent GABAergic inhibitory action. It is one of the key regulators for neuronal excitability, exerting a powerful action on excitation/inhibition balance. We have previously reported that astrocytic GABA, synthesized by monoamine oxidase B (MAOB), mediates tonic inhibition via GABA-permeable bestrophin 1 (Best1) channel in the cerebellum. However, the role of astrocytic GABA in regulating neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission, and cerebellar brain function has remained elusive. Here, we report that a reduction of tonic GABA release by genetic removal or pharmacological inhibition of Best1 or MAOB caused an enhanced neuronal excitability in cerebellar granule cells (GCs), synaptic transmission at the parallel fiber-Purkinje cell (PF-PC) synapses, and motor performance on the rotarod test, whereas an augmentation of tonic GABA release by astrocyte-specific overexpression of MAOB resulted in a reduced neuronal excitability, synaptic transmission, and motor performance. The bidirectional modulation of astrocytic GABA by genetic alteration of Best1 or MAOB was confirmed by immunostaining and in vivo microdialysis. These findings indicate that astrocytes are the key player in motor coordination through tonic GABA release by modulating neuronal excitability and could be a good therapeutic target for various movement and psychiatric disorders, which show a disturbed excitation/inhibition balance.

scholarly journals GPR68 deletion impairs hippocampal long-term potentiation and passive avoidance behavior

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuanyuan Xu ◽  
Mike T. Lin ◽  
Xiang-ming Zha
Keyword(s):  
Passive Avoidance ◽  
Pyramidal Neurons ◽  
Granule Cells ◽  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Synaptic Cleft ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
Synaptic Function ◽  
Metabotropic Receptor ◽  
Term Potentiation

Abstract Increased neural activities reduced pH at the synaptic cleft and interstitial spaces. Recent studies have shown that protons function as a neurotransmitter. However, it remains unclear whether protons signal through a metabotropic receptor to regulate synaptic function. Here, we showed that GPR68, a proton-sensitive GPCR, exhibited wide expression in the hippocampus, with higher expression observed in CA3 pyramidal neurons and dentate granule cells. In organotypic hippocampal slice neurons, ectopically expressed GPR68-GFP was present in dendrites, dendritic spines, and axons. Recordings in hippocampal slices isolated from GPR68−/− mice showed a reduced fiber volley at the Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses, a reduced long-term potentiation (LTP), but unaltered paired-pulse ratio. In a step-through passive avoidance test, GPR68−/− mice exhibited reduced avoidance to the dark chamber. These findings showed that GPR68 contributes to hippocampal LTP and aversive fear memory.

Synaptic Depolarizing GABA Response in Adults Is Excitatory and Proconvulsive When GABAB Receptors Are Blocked

2005 ◽  
Vol 93 (5) ◽  
pp. 2656-2667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua T. Kantrowitz ◽  
N. Noelle Francis ◽  
Alejandro Salah ◽  
Katherine L. Perkins
Keyword(s):  
Voltage Clamp ◽  
Epileptiform Activity ◽  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Phosphinic Acid ◽  
Pyramidal Cells ◽  
Cell Voltage ◽  
Gaba Release ◽  
Gabab Receptors ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Ca3 Pyramidal Cells

In the presence of 4-aminopyridine, interneurons fire synchronously, causing giant GABA-mediated postsynaptic potentials (GPSPs; GPSCs in voltage clamp) in CA3 pyramidal cells in hippocampal slices from adult guinea pigs. These triphasic GPSPs are composed of a GABAA-mediated hyperpolarizing component, a depolarizing component, and a GABAB-mediated hyperpolarizing component. We propose that GABAB receptors exert control over the postsynaptic depolarizing GABA response. Microelectrode and cell-attached recordings demonstrated that the mean number of action potentials during the depolarizing component of the GPSP increased dramatically in the presence of the GABAB receptor antagonist (2S)-3-[[(1S)-1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]amino-2- hydroxypropyl](phenylmethyl) phosphinic acid (CGP 55845A; P = 0.003 and 0.0005, respectively). Whole cell voltage-clamp recordings showed that the postsynaptic GABAB and depolarizing GABA components of the GPSC overlap substantially, allowing the GABAB-mediated hyperpolarization to suppress the excitation mediated by the depolarizing GABA component. Further voltage-clamp recordings showed that CGP 55845A increased the duration of the depolarizing GABA component of the GPSC even when the GABAB component had already been blocked by internal QX-314, suggesting that CGP 55845A also increased the duration of GABA release. When glutamatergic transmission is intact, GPSPs directly precede epileptiform afterdischarges. We hypothesize that the depolarizing component of the GPSP triggers the epileptiform events and show here that enhancement of the depolarizing component with CGP 55845A increased epileptiform activity. CGP 55845A increased the likelihood of a GPSP triggering an epileptiform event from 32 to 99% ( P = 0.0000001), and significantly increased the number of afterdischarges per epileptiform event ( P = 0.001). Loss of GABAB receptor function is associated with temporal lobe epilepsy in rodents and humans. We show here that GABAB receptors exert control over the synaptic depolarizing GABA response and that block of GABAB receptors makes the depolarizing GABA response excitatory and proconvulsive.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document