Paradoxical antagonism by bicuculline of the inhibition by baclofen of the electrically evoked release of [3H]GABA from rat cerebral cortex slices

Impaired GABAergic transmission disrupts normal homeostatic plasticity in rat cortical networks

In the cortex, homeostatic plasticity appears to be a key process for maintaining neuronal network activity in a functional range. This phenomenon depends on close interactions between excitatory and inhibitory circuits. We previously showed that application of a high frequency of stimulation (HFS) protocol in layer 2/3 induces parallel potentiation of excitatory and inhibitory inputs on layer 5 pyramidal neurons, leading to an unchanged excitation/inhibition (E/I) balance. These coordinated long-term potentiations of excitation and inhibition correspond to homeostatic plasticity of the neuronal networks. We showed here, on the rat visual cortex, that blockade (with gabazine) or overactivation (with 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridin-3-ol) of GABA(A) receptors enhanced the E/I balance and prevented the potentiation of excitatory and inhibitory inputs after an HFS protocol. These impairements of the GABAergic transmission led to a long-term depression-like effect after an HFS protocol. We also observed that the blockade of inhibition reduced excitation (by 60%), and conversely, the blockade of excitation decreased inhibition (by 90%). These results support the idea that inhibitory interneurons are critical for recurrent interactions underlying homeostatic plasticity in cortical networks.

Blockade of GABAergic inhibition reveals reordered cortical somatotopic maps in rats that sustained neonatal forelimb removal

A previous study from this laboratory demonstrated that forelimb removal at birth results in invasion of the cuneate nucleus (CN) by sciatic nerve axons and the development of CN cells including thalamic projection neurons with receptive fields that include both the forelimb stump and the hindlimb. However, recordings from unit clusters in lamina IV of the primary somatosensory cortex (SI) of these animals revealed the presence of only a very few sites in the forelimb stump representation where responses to hindlimb stimulation could also be recorded. In the present study we tested the possibility that input from the hindlimb was suppressed in lamina IV of the cortical stump representation via GABAergic inhibitory mechanisms by mapping this cortical region, applying the gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABA(A)) and GABA(B) receptor antagonists bicuculline and phaclofen (50 microM each), and then remapping the same sites. In six neonatally manipulated rats, 15 of 242 sites (6.2%) in the stump representation responded to hindlimb stimulation before GABA receptor blockade and 107 (44.2%) of the same sites responded to stimulation of the hindlimb during blockade (P < 0.05). In six normal adult rats, 7 of 264 sites (2.7%) in the forelimb representation responded to hindlimb stimulation before the application of bicuculline and phaclofen. During GABA receptor blockage, 31 of these sites (11.7%) responded to such stimulation (P < 0.02 vs. the untreated normal cortex and P < 0.01 vs. the neonatally manipulated rats treated with GABA blockers). To specifically test the role of GABA(A) versus GABA(B) receptors in the inhibition of hindlimb input to the SI stump representation in rats that sustained neonatal forelimb removal, either bicuculline or phaclofen alone was applied to SI in nine neonatally manipulated animals. In four rats treated with bicuculline, 12 of 184 sites (6.5%) in the stump representation responded to hindlimb stimulation before treatment and 61 of 184 sites (33.2%) responded to such stimulation during application (P < 0.01). In animals (n = 5) treated with phaclofen, 18 of 251 sites (7.2%) responded to hindlimb stimulation before treatment and 64 of these sites (25.5%) responded to such stimulation during application (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the results obtained with bicuculline alone, phaclofen alone, or the two GABA blockers delivered together (P > 0.05). These results indicate that hindlimb input to the portion of SI representing the forelimb stump is functionally suppressed in rats that have sustained neonatal forelimb removal and that GABAergic inhibition, mediated by both GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptors, is involved in this process.

A physiological role for GABAB receptors and the effects of baclofen in the mammalian central nervous system

The inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA acts in the mammalian brain through two different receptor classes: GABAA and GABAB receptors. GABAB receptors differ fundamentally from GABAA receptors in that they require a G-protein. GABAB receptors are located pre- and/or post-synaptically, and are coupled to various K+ and Ca2+ channels presumably through both a membrane delimited pathway and a pathway involving second messengers. Baclofen, a selective GABAB receptor agonist, as well as GABA itself have pre- and post-synaptic effects. Pre-synaptic effects comprise the reduction of the release of excitatory and inhibitory transmitters. GABAergic receptors on GABAergic terminals may regulate GABA release, however, in most instances spontaneous inhibitory synaptic activity is not modulated by endogenous GABA. Post-synaptic GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition is likely to occur through a membrane delimited pathway activating K+ channels, while baclofen, in some neurons, may activate K+ channels through a second messenger pathway involving arachidonic acid. Some, but not all GABAB receptor-gated K+ channels have the typical properties of those G-protein-activated K+ channels which are also gated by other endogenous ligands of the brain. New, high affinity GABAB antagonists are now available, and some pharmacological evidence points to a receptor heterogeneity. The pharmacological distinction of receptor subtypes, however, has to await final support from a characterization of the molecular structure. The function importance of post-synaptic GABAB receptors is highlighted by a segregation of GABAA and GABAB synapses in the mammalian brain.

GABAA receptors mediate the changes produced by stress on GABA function and locomotor activity

(1) This study shows the effects of bicuculline pretreatment on the GABAergic system in certain areas of the rat brain after acute ether and cold stress. (2) The spontaneous locomotor activity was diminished by either ether stress or cold stress or bicuculline. (3) Acute ether stress enhanced GABA concentration in the hypothalamus (69%) and in the frontal cerebral cortex (26%). Bicuculline prevented the increase in GABA levels induced by ether stress in both areas. (4) Acute cold stress decreased GABA concentration in the corpus striatum (29%). Bicuculline prevented the decrease in GABA levels induced by cold stress. (5) It is concluded that there is a GABAA receptor involved in stress induced changes on endogenous GABA levels as well as on locomotor activity.

Uptake and release of beta-alanine in cerebellar granule cells in primary culture: regulation of release by glutamatergic and GABAergic receptors

The uptake and release of beta-[3H]alanine were studied in cultured glutamatergic cerebellar granule cells of the rat. The uptake of beta-alanine was saturable and sodium-dependent, comprising one high-affinity transport component. It was inhibited by hypotaurine, taurine, GABA and homotaurine but not by glycine or glutamate. The release was enhanced by homoexchange, veratridine and high K+ concentrations (50 mM). The K(+)-stimulated release was at least partially Ca(2+)-dependent. The release was shown to be subject to regulation by GABAA receptors and glutamate receptors of the kainate type. The results signify that beta-alanine may have a functional role in cerebellar granule cells.

GABA and behavior: the role of receptor subtypes

The discovery of different GABA receptor subtypes has stimulated research relating this neurotransmitter to a variety of behavioral functions and clinical disorders. The development of new and specific GABAergic compounds has made it possible to try to identify the specific functions of these receptors. The purpose of the present review is to evaluate the data regarding the functions of the GABA receptor subtypes in different behaviors such as motor function, reproduction, learning and memory, and aggressive-defensive behaviors. A description of GABAergic functions (stress, peripheral effects, thermoregulation) that might directly or indirectly affect behavior is also included. The possible involvement of GABA in different neurological and psychiatric disorders is also discussed. Although much research has been done trying to identify the possible role of GABA in different behaviors, the role of receptor subtypes has only recently attracted attention, and only preliminary data are available at present. It is therefore evident that still much work has to be done before a clear picture of the behavioral significance of these receptor subtypes can be obtained. Nevertheless, existing data are sufficient to justify the prediction that GABAergic agents, in the near future, will be much used in the field of behavioral pharmacology. It is hoped that the present review will contribute to this. Some specific suggestions concerning the most efficient way to pursue future research are also made.

Release of GABA and taurine from brain slices

In brain slices the mechanisms of release of GABA have been extensively studied, but those of taurine markedly less. The knowledge acquired from studies on GABA is, nevertheless, still fragmentary, not to speak of that obtained from the few studies on taurine, and firm conclusions are difficult, even impossible, to draw. This is mainly due to methodological matters, such as the diversity and pitfalls of the techniques applied. Brain slices are relatively easy to prepare and they represent a preparation that may most closely reflect relations prevailing in vivo, since the tissue structure and cellular integrity are largely preserved. In our opinion the most recommendable method at present is to superfuse freely floating agitated slices in continuously oxygenated medium. Taurine is metabolically rather inert in the brain, whereas the metabolism of GABA must be taken into account in all release studies. The use of inhibitors of GABA catabolism is discouraged, however, since a block in GABA metabolism may distort relations between different releasable pools of GABA in tissue. It is not known for sure how well, and homogeneously, incubation of slices with radioactive taurine labels the releasable pools but at least in the case of GABA there may prevail differences in the behavior of labeled and endogenous GABA. It is suggested therefore that the results obtained with radioactive GABA or taurine should be frequently checked and confirmed by analyzing the release of respective endogenous compounds. The spontaneous efflux of both GABA and taurine from brain slices is very slow. The magnitude of stimulation of GABA release by homoexchange is greater than that of taurine under the same experimental conditions. However, the release of both amino acids is generally enhanced by a great number of structural analogs, the most potent being those which are simultaneously the most potent inhibitors of uptake. This may result in part from inhibition of reuptake of amino acid molecules released from slices but the findings may also signify that the efflux of GABA and taurine is at least partially mediated by the membrane carriers operating in an outward direction. It is thus advisable not to interpret that stimulation of release in the presence of uptake inhibitors solely results from the block of reuptake of exocytotically released molecules, since changes in the carrier-mediated transport are also likely to occur upon stimulation. The electrical and K+ stimulation evoke the release of both GABA and taurine. The evoked release of GABA is several-fold greater than that of taurine in slices from the adult brain.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)