Slow Excitation of Cultured Rat Retinal Ganglion Cells by Activating Group I Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors

2009 ◽  
Vol 102 (6) ◽  
pp. 3728-3739 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianing Yu ◽  
Bryan A. Daniels ◽  
William H. Baldridge
Keyword(s):  
Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Retinal Ganglion Cells ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Membrane Resistance ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Receptor Subtype ◽  
Retinal Ganglion ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate ◽  
Group I

As in many CNS neurons, retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) receive fast synaptic activation through postsynaptic ionotropic receptors. However, the potential role of postsynaptic group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in these neurons is unknown. In this study we first demonstrated that the selective group I mGluR agonist ( S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) increased intracellular calcium concentration in neurons within the ganglion cell layer of the rat retina. This prompted us to use an immunopanned-RGC and cortical astroglia coculture preparation to explore the effect of group I mGluR activation on the electrophysiological properties of cultured RGCs. Using perforated patch-clamp recordings in current-clamp configuration, we found that application of DHPG increased spontaneous spiking and depolarized the resting membrane potential of RGCs. This boosting effect was attributed to an increase in membrane resistance due to blockade of a background K+ conductance. Further experiments showed that the group I mGluR-sensitive K+ conductance was not blocked by 3 mM Cs+, but was sensitive to acidification. Pharmacological studies indicated that the effect of DHPG on RGCs was mediated by the mGluR1 rather than the mGluR5 receptor subtype. Our results suggest a facilitatory role for group I mGluR activation in modulating RGC excitability in the mammalian inner retina.

scholarly journals Activation of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors modulates locomotor-related motoneuron output in mice

2011 ◽  
Vol 105 (5) ◽  
pp. 2108-2120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noboru Iwagaki ◽  
Gareth B. Miles
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Action Potential ◽  
Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Motor Behavior ◽  
Resting Membrane Potential ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate ◽  
Spinal Motor ◽  
Group I ◽  
Group I Mglurs

Fast glutamatergic transmission via ionotropic receptors is critical for the generation of locomotion by spinal motor networks. In addition, glutamate can act via metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) to modulate the timing of ongoing locomotor activity. In the present study, we investigated whether mGluRs also modulate the intensity of motor output generated by spinal motor networks. Application of the group I mGluR agonist ( S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) reduced the amplitude and increased the frequency of locomotor-related motoneuron output recorded from the lumbar ventral roots of isolated mouse spinal cord preparations. Whole cell patch-clamp recordings of spinal motoneurons revealed multiple mechanisms by which group I mGluRs modulate motoneuron output. Although DHPG depolarized the resting membrane potential and reduced the voltage threshold for action potential generation, the activation of group I mGluRs had a net inhibitory effect on motoneuron output that appeared to reflect the modulation of fast, inactivating Na+ currents and action potential parameters. In addition, group I mGluR activation decreased the amplitude of locomotor-related excitatory input to motoneurons. Analyses of miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents indicated that mGluRs modulate synaptic drive to motoneurons via both pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms. These data highlight group I mGluRs as a potentially important source of neuromodulation within the spinal cord that, in addition to modulating components of the central pattern generator for locomotion, can modulate the intensity of motoneuron output during motor behavior. Given that group I mGluR activation reduces motoneuron excitability, mGluRs may provide negative feedback control of motoneuron output, particularly during high levels of glutamatergic stimulation.

scholarly journals Excitation of Cerebellar Interneurons by Group I Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors

2004 ◽  
Vol 92 (3) ◽  
pp. 1558-1565 ◽  
Author(s):  
Movses H. Karakossian ◽  
Thomas S. Otis
Keyword(s):  
Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Glutamate Receptor ◽  
Ampa Receptors ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptor ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Parallel Fiber ◽  
Receptor Subtype ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate ◽  
Group I

Cerebellar basket and stellate neurons (BSNs) provide feed-forward inhibition to Purkinje neurons (PNs) and thereby play a principal role in determining the output of the cerebellar cortex. During low-frequency transmission, glutamate released at parallel fiber synapses excites BSNs by binding to AMPA receptors; high-frequency transmission also recruits N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. We find that, in addition to these ligand-gated receptors, a G-protein–coupled glutamate receptor subtype participates in exciting BSNs. Stimulation of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1α (mGluR1α) with the mGluR agonist ( RS)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG) leads to an increase in spontaneous firing of BSNs and indirectly to an increase in the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) recorded in PNs. Under conditions in which ligand-gated glutamate receptors are blocked, parallel fiber stimulation generates a slow excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) in BSNs that is inhibited by mGluR1α-selective antagonists. This slow EPSC is capable of increasing BSN spiking and indirectly increasing sIPSCs frequency in PNs. Our findings reinforce the idea that distinct subtypes of glutamate receptors are activated in response to different patterns of activity at excitatory synapses. The results also raise the possibility that mGluR1α-dependent forms of synaptic plasticity may occur at excitatory inputs to BSNs.

Group I Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors Are Differentially Expressed by Two Populations of Olfactory Bulb Granule Cells

2007 ◽  
Vol 97 (4) ◽  
pp. 3136-3141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Heinbockel ◽  
Kathryn A. Hamilton ◽  
Matthew Ennis
Keyword(s):  
Olfactory Bulb ◽  
Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Granule Cells ◽  
Mitral Cell ◽  
Mitral Cells ◽  
Patch Clamp Recording ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate ◽  
Group I ◽  
Bath Application

In the main olfactory bulb, several populations of granule cells (GCs) can be distinguished based on the soma location either superficially, interspersed with mitral cells within the mitral cell layer (MCL), or deeper, within the GC layer (GCL). Little is known about the physiological properties of superficial GCs (sGCs) versus deep GCs (dGCs). Here, we used patch-clamp recording methods to explore the role of Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) in regulating the activity of GCs in slices from wildtype and mGluR−/− mutant mice. In wildtype mice, bath application of the selective Group I mGluR agonist DHPG depolarized and increased the firing rate of both GC subtypes. In the presence of blockers of fast synaptic transmission (APV, CNQX, gabazine), DHPG directly depolarized both GC subtypes, although the two GC subtypes responded differentially to DHPG in mGluR1−/− and mGluR5−/− mice. DHPG depolarized sGCs in slices from mGluR5−/− mice, although it had no effect on sGCs in slices from mGluR1−/− mice. By contrast, DHPG depolarized dGCs in slices from mGluR1−/− mice but had no effect on dGCs in slices from mGluR5−/− mice. Previous studies showed that mitral cells express mGluR1 but not mGluR5. The present results therefore suggest that sGCs are more similar to mitral cells than dGCs in terms of mGluR expression.

scholarly journals Activity-dependent regulation of synaptic strength by PSD-95 in CA1 neurons

2012 ◽  
Vol 107 (4) ◽  
pp. 1058-1066 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Zhang ◽  
John E. Lisman
Keyword(s):  
Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors ◽  
Hippocampal Slices ◽  
Long Term Potentiation ◽  
Synaptic Strength ◽  
Ca1 Neurons ◽  
Metabotropic Glutamate ◽  
Group I ◽  
Term Potentiation ◽  
Activity Dependent

CaMKII and PSD-95 are the two most abundant postsynaptic proteins in the postsynaptic density (PSD). Overexpression of either can dramatically increase synaptic strength and saturate long-term potentiation (LTP). To do so, CaMKII must be activated, but the same is not true for PSD-95; expressing wild-type PSD-95 is sufficient. This raises the question of whether PSD-95's effects are simply an equilibrium process [increasing the number of AMPA receptor (AMPAR) slots] or whether activity is somehow involved. To examine this question, we blocked activity in cultured hippocampal slices with TTX and found that the effects of PSD-95 overexpression were greatly reduced. We next studied the type of receptors involved. The effects of PSD-95 were prevented by antagonists of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) but not by antagonists of ionotropic glutamate receptors. The inhibition of PSD-95-induced strengthening was not simply a result of inhibition of PSD-95 synthesis. To understand the mechanisms involved, we tested the role of CaMKII. Overexpression of a CaMKII inhibitor, CN19, greatly reduced the effect of PSD-95. We conclude that PSD-95 cannot itself increase synaptic strength simply by increasing the number of AMPAR slots; rather, PSD-95's effects on synaptic strength require an activity-dependent process involving mGluR and CaMKII.

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