Direct evidence for the presence of GABAA receptors on the cytoplasmic side of the Deiters' neurone membrane

Unorthodox view of the functioning of a GABAA synapse

1. Studies about the permeation of labelled chloride and GABA across single plasma membranes microdissected from vestibular Deiters' neurons have yielded two unexpected results: (a) intracellular GABA stimulates chloride permeation in an asymmetric fashion (efflux being favoured); (b) under certain conditions GABA permeates by a diffusion mechanism in the out-->in direction across these plasma membranes. 2. These two main results have been obtained over many years together with a host of other indications about the fine mechanism of these events. Thus, a picture has emerged of their physiological meaning within the context of the functioning of the GABAA synapses between the Purkinje cells and the Deiters' neurons. 3. In short, it is proposed that at these synapses GABA accumulates into the postsynaptic neuron after its release and activation of the postsynaptic receptors. GABA accumulated in the Deiters' neurons is involved in the process of chloride extrusion to build an inward directed electrochemical gradient for chloride.

Intracellular GABA-activated in-->out permeation of chloride across the Deiters' neuron membrane: modulation by phosphorylating activities

The modulation of intracellular GABA activated 36Cl- in-->out permeation across single Deiters' neuron membranes has been studied in a microchamber system. Addition of Mg2+/ATP on the membrane cytoplasmic side reduces strongly the GABA effect as does ATP alone. However, the greatest inhibition of the GABA effect is given by the addition of Mg2+ to the intracellular side buffer: a complete block of the stimulation by GABA of 36Cl- in-->out permeation. This is interpreted as due to the presence in this case of a constant concentration of exogenous Mg2+ acting together with endogenous ATP in the small cytoplasmic layer on the membrane inner side. The addition of ADP to Mg2+/ATP increases the inhibitory effect of the latter. This is presumably due to an extra increase of ATP, locally under the membrane, due to phosphorylation of ADP by endogenous phosphocreatine. Overall, the data confirm that phosphorylating conditions impair the intracellular GABA action on 36Cl- in-->out permeation.

Chloride permeation across the Deiters' neuron plasma membrane: activation by GABA on the membrane cytoplasmic side

Single plasma membranes were microdissected from Deiters' neurons freshly obtained from the lateral vestibular nucleus of the rabbit and their chloride permeability was studied in a microchamber system. The basal in-->out 36Cl- permeation initially found was brought to zero by Zn2+, 4,4'-diisothiocyanatostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid and iodide. GABA on the membrane cytoplasmic side resulted in a measurable in-->out 36Cl- passage, which was blocked by the GABA(A) antagonists bicuculline and picrotoxin. This effect peaked at 1 microM GABA on the inner side of the membrane. At higher GABA concentrations, a strong desensitization of the effect was found. Stimulation of Cl- permeability by GABA on the extracellular side of the membrane peaked at much higher GABA concentrations, 10-100 microM. This excludes an effect due to passage of the neurotransmitter from the inner to the outer compartment in our microchamber device. Moreover, this possibility is also dismissed by the fact that 1 microM GABA on the membrane outside did not evoke any 36Cl- in-->out permeation. In addition, pentobarbitone by itself could also stimulate 36Cl- in-->out permeation when added on the cytoplasmic side of Deiters' membrane. On these bases and in agreement with our previous reports, we propose that structures behaving pharmacologically as GABA(A) receptors respond to low levels of GABA on the cytoplasmic side of these neurons' membranes. We suggest that these structures are devices that, at the expense of ATP consumed in their phosphorylation, extrude Cl- after postsynaptic GABA uptake into the Deiters' neuron.

Stimulation of chloride in-->out permeation across the Deiters' neuron membrane by pentobarbital on the cytoplasmic side: additional evidence of GABA(A) receptors acting as chloride extrusion pumps

Pentobarbital stimulates 36Cl- permeation across single Deiters' membranes in a microchamber system, acting on classical, extracellularly facing, GABA(A) receptors. However, when applied on the membrane cytoplasmic side it activates per se labeled chloride in-->out permeation. No effect was found on chloride out-->in permeation. Similarly, at lower concentrations it facilitates the increase of 36Cl- in-->out permeation by application of GABA on the membrane inside, again via asymmetric chloride channels allowing in-->out but not out-->in passage. These data confirm that on the Deiters' membrane cytoplasmic side there are structures behaving pharmacologically as GABA(A) receptors whose function is that of a Cl- extrusion pump. This mechanism involves a cycle of activation-phosphorylation/desensitization-reactivation of the receptor complexes.

Modulation by calcium of Deiters' neuron GABAA receptors in the rabbit

The function of classical GABAA receptors of the rabbit Deiters' neurons has been studied at the single membrane level by a biochemical micromethod involving the study of labelled chloride permeation. In particular, labelled chloride permeation across microdissected fresh single membranes was studied in a microchamber system. The stimulation of 36Cl- out-->in permeation by "extracellular" GABA was determined under different conditions in the respect of Ca++. When the conditions were such that "intracellular" Ca++ was 0.02 microM there appeared to be an optimal effect by GABA on chloride passage. Conditions presumably resulting in an increase of [Ca++]i beyond the level reported above led to a decreased GABA effect, especially at the highest GABA concentrations used (> or = 10(-4)M). However, complete removal of Ca++ by a high (12 mM) intracellular EGTA concentration erased completely the GABA effect. These results indicate that in these neurons an optimal GABAA receptor function requires [Ca++]i levels well below micromolar. The high [EGTA]i effect seems to imply that too low a [Ca++]i is also harmful to the proper function of these GABAA receptors. However, an alternative explanation is possible.

The increase in Cl- permeation across the Deiters' neuron membrane by GABA on its cytoplasmic side is abolished by protein kinase C (PKC) activators

1. Cl- ion outward permeation across microdissected Deiters' neuron plasma membranes is augmented by GABA on the membrane cytoplasmic side. When these neurons are preincubated with a PKC activator, phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PdBu), there is a complex pattern of effects on basal and GABA-activated 36Cl- in-->out permeation. A distinct fact is an increase in basal Cl- passage and a disappearance of the 10(-6) M GABA effect at [PdBu] = 0.1 microM. 2. Likewise, 0.1 microM oleylacetylglycerol (OAG) treatment erases the effect completely, further supporting a role for PKC in modulating GABA-stimulated Cl- in-->out permeation. 3. The inactive ester, phorbol-12,13-didecanoate (Pdd), at 0.1 microM, does not affect GABA stimulation of Cl- passage. 4. High concentration (15-20 microM) of OAG and PdBu block the "intracellular" GABA efefct. However, the 20 microM PdBu effect is reversed by 30 microM H7. 5. These results indicate a role of endogenous PKC in Cl- extrusion by GABAA receptors on the cytoplasmic side of the Deiters' neuron membrane.

Modulation by intracellular Ca++ of GABA activated Cl- extrusion from Deiters' neuron

The increase in 36Cl- in --> out permeation across plasma membranes from the Deiters' neurons by GABA on the cytoplasmic side is modulated by Ca++. The GABA stimulation was maximal with Ca++ on the intracellular side at the physiologically likely concentration of 3 x 10(-8) M. A lower effect was found in the 10(-7) - 10(-5) M [Ca++]i range with a total disappearance of it at [Ca++] of .2 mM. This Cl- extrusion mechanism is likely to be involved in the establishment of a Cl- out --> in electrochemical gradient. Modulation of it by intracellular Ca++ transients may be of physiological importance.

The GABAA receptor channel mediated chloride ion translocation through the plasma membrane: new insights from 36Cl- ion flux measurements

GABAA receptors in plasma membranes of neurons are integral oligomers which form chloride channels. The binding of GABA molecules at recognition sites for channel opening triggers a transient increase in transmembrane chloride ion flux. The multiplicity and drug specificity of GABAA receptor, kinetics of channel opening, and desensitization of GABAA receptor and its short- and long-term regulation have been investigated by the use of tracer amounts of the radioactive chloride isotope, 36Cl- ion. Results and new insights from 36Cl- ion flux measurements have been reviewed.

Further evidence for the presence of gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptors on the cytoplasmic side of Deiters' membrane

1. The permeation of labeled Cl- across single nerve membranes microdissected from rabbit Deiters' neurons was studied in a microchamber system. The in----out permeation of the ions was evaluated under control conditions and in the presence of either 10(-6) M GABA or 10(-6) M GABA plus 10(-5) M bicuculline methiodide (BMI) on the membrane cytoplasmic side. 2. In 32 experiments, involving one animal each, at least two membranes served as controls and at least two others were studied with the addition of GABA. Within each experiment all the membranes were obtained from the same animal. 3. In an additional 10 experiments, involving one animal each, at least two membranes served as controls and at least two others were studied in the presence of GABA plus bicuculline methiodide on the membrane cytoplasmic side. 4. The data show that 10(-6) M GABA on the Deiters' membrane cytoplasmic side stimulates Cl- permeation in----out by 42% (P = 0.0000001). When 10(-5) M BMI was present together with GABA, no stimulation of Cl- in----out permeation occurred.

Can Cl- ions be extruded from a gamma-aminobutyric (GABA)-acceptive nerve cell via GABAA receptors on the plasma membrane cytoplasmic side?

1. In this commentary we discuss results obtained by a micromethod for the study of Cl- permeability across single nerve membranes from rabbit Deiters' neurons. 2. These results showed the presence of GABAA receptors on the nerve cell membrane cytoplasmic side. 3. We could show that these receptor complexes have a higher affinity for GABA than their extracellularly facing counterparts. Moreover, they present a phenomenon of desensitization. Another distinct property is that upon activation by GABA, they expose positive charges at their cytoplasmic mouths. 4. We propose that these receptor complexes could function in situ as a device for extruding Cl- anions from the nerve cell interior. This phenomenon would create an electrochemical gradient for Cl- penetration into the cell upon the action of extracellular GABA, after its presynaptic release.

Stimulation of 36Cl- permeation in the in----out direction across the Dieters' neuron membrane by GABA on its cytoplasmic side: effect of different ionic conditions

The permeation of labelled Cl- ions across single plasma membranes microdissected from rabbit Deiters' neuron was studied in a microchamber system. In particular, we studied 36Cl- in----out permeation and its stimulation by 10(-6) M GABA on the cytoplasmic side under different ionic conditions on both sides of the membrane. Three main results were found: a) The GABA effect turns up at a cytoplasmic side [Cl-], 21 mM, in the range of the normal steady state intracellular Cl- concentration. It disappears both at tracer level of Cl- on the cytoplasmic side and when [Cl-] is high there (140 mM). b) The increase in ionic strength due to the equinormal substitution of monovalent anions (Cl- and acetate) with the trivalent impermeant anion citrate on both sides of the membrane erases the GABA effect even if Cl- is at the optimal cytoplasmic side concentration, 21 mM. c) Citrate ions reduce to the limit of significance the GABA effect even when they are only on the membrane extracellular side and [Cl-] is at the optimal level on the other side. These results confirm that GABA stimulated Cl- permeation in the in----out direction is via Cl- channels exposing positive charges at their cytoplasmic mouth. In addition, they point out that such GABA activated channels are endowed with a partial electrical positivity at their extracellular exit.

Effect of phosphatidylserine on the basal and GABA-activated Cl- permeation across single nerve membranes from rabbit Deiters' neurons

The permeation of labeled Cl- ions across single plasma membranes from Deiters' neurons has been studied in the presence of various concentrations of phosphatidylserine (PS) on their extracellular side. PS reduces significantly basal Cl- permeation only at 10(-5) M on the membrane exterior. No effect was found at other concentrations. GABA activable 36Cl- permeation is heavily reduced and almost abolished at 10(-11) - 10(-5) M phosphatidylserine. This exogenous phosphatidylserine effect is difficult to interpret in relation to the function of the endogenous phospholipid. However, it may be involved in the epileptogenic effect in vivo of exogenous phosphatidylserine administration to rats.

Further studies on the effect of ASF factor on Cl- permeability across the Deiters' neurone plasma membrane

Experiments have been performed in order to assess whether the antisecretory factor (ASF) can influence the permeation of Cl- ions across the Deiters' neurone plasma membrane in the outward direction. ASF is a naturally occurring, acidic protein with a molecular weight of about 60,000, which specifically inhibits enterotoxin-induced intestinal secretion. Both basal and "intracellular" GABA activated Cl- permeability was studied, and the result confirmed the existence of GABAA receptors on the Deiters' membrane cytoplasmic side. ASF completely abolished the effect of "intracellular" GABA on Cl- permeability in the outward direction. However, ASF did not influence the basal Cl- permeability in the outward direction.

The mechanism by which intracellular GABA increases Cl- outward permeability across Deiters' neurone plasma membranes

The present experiments aimed to clarify how the interaction of gamma-amino-butyric acid (GABA) with its receptors on the cytoplasmic side of the Deiters' neurone plasma membrane causes Cl- permeability to be higher in the in----out than in the opposite direction. To this end, the rate of 36Cl- in----out passage was studied in basal conditions, with GABA on the cytoplasmic side and in the presence of both GABA and an increased ionic strength buffer on that side. The results show that an increase in ionic strength reverses the GABA effect of 36Cl- permeability. The reversion being caused by changes in the buffer on the intracellular but not on the extracellular side. Our interpretation of this result is that the interaction of GABA with its cytoplasmic side receptors induces an exposure of positive charges only at the intracellular mouth of the intraneuronal GABA gated Cl- channels. This asymmetry would be the basis of the reported higher Cl- permeability in the in----out direction.