Stimulation of Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter in neuronal cells by excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate

Afferent regulation of inhibitory synaptic transmission in the developing auditory midbrain

To determine whether afferent innervation regulates the strength of inhibitory connections in the gerbil auditory midbrain, both cochleas were surgically removed in postnatal day 7 animals, before sound-driven activity is first observed. Inhibitory synaptic currents were measured in a brain slice preparation 1-7 d after the ablations. Whole-cell and gramicidin-perforated patch recordings were obtained from inferior colliculus neurons, and IPSCs were evoked by stimulation of the commissure of the inferior colliculus (CIC) or the ipsilateral lateral lemniscus (LL) in the presence of kynurenic acid. Deafferentation led to a 24 mV depolarizing shift in the IPSC equilibrium potential within 1 d of deafferentation. As a consequence, there was a large reduction of IPSC amplitude at a holding potential of -20 mV in neurons from bilaterally ablated animals. Furthermore, both afferent pathways displayed a 50% reduction of the inhibitory synaptic conductance after deafferentation, indicating that driving force was not solely responsible for the decline in IPSC amplitude. When paired pulses were delivered to the LL or CIC pathway in control neurons, the evoked IPSCs exhibited facilitation. However, paired pulse facilitation was nearly eliminated after deafferentation. Thus, normal innervation affects inhibitory synaptic strength by regulating postsynaptic chloride homeostasis and presynaptic transmitter release properties.

Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter in immature cortical neurons: A role in intracellular Cl- regulation

Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter has been suggested to contribute to active intracellular Cl- accumulation in neurons at both early developmental and adult stages. In this report, we extensively characterized the Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter in primary culture of cortical neurons that were dissected from cerebral cortex of rat fetus at embryonic day 17. The Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter was expressed abundantly in soma and dendritic processes of cortical neurons evaluated by immunocytochemical staining. Western blot analysis revealed that an approximately 145-kDa cotransporter protein was present in cerebral cortex at the early postnatal (P0-P9) and adult stages. There was a time-dependent upregulation of the cotransporter activity in cortical neurons during the early postnatal development. A substantial level of bumetanide-sensitive K+ influx was detected in neurons cultured for 4-8 days in vitro (DIV 4-8). The cotransporter activity was increased significantly at DIV 12 and maintained at a steady level throughout DIV 12-14. Bumetanide-sensitive K+ influx was abolished completely in the absence of either extracellular Na+ or Cl-. Opening of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-activated Cl- channel or depletion of intracellular Cl- significantly stimulated the cotransporter activity. Moreover, the cotransporter activity was elevated significantly by activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate ionotropic glutamate receptor via a Ca2+-dependent mechanism. These results imply that the inwardly directed Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter is important in active accumulation of intracellular Cl- and may be responsible for GABA-mediated excitatory effect in immature cortical neurons.