The involvement of GABA-C receptors in paired-pulse depression of inhibitory postsynaptic currents in rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons

Pharmacological Effect of GABA Analogues on GABA-ϱ2 Receptors and Their Subtype Selectivity

GABAρ receptors are distinctive GABAergic receptors from other ionotropic GABA_A and metabotropic GABA_B receptors in their pharmacological, biochemical, and electrophysiological properties. Although GABA-ρ1 receptors are the most studied in this subfamily, GABA-ρ2 receptors are widely distributed in the brain and are considered a potential target for treating neurological disorders such as stroke. The structure of GABA-ρ2 receptors and their pharmacological features are poorly studied. We generated the first homology model of GABA-ρ2 channel, which predicts similar major interactions of GABA with the binding-site residues in GABA-ρ1 and GABA-ρ2 channels. We also investigated the pharmacological properties of several GABA analogues on the activity of GABA-ρ2 receptors. In comparison to their pharmacological effect on GABA-ρ1 receptors, the activation effect of these ligands and their potentiation/inhibition impact on GABA response have interestingly shown inter-selectivity between the two GABA-ρ receptors. Our results suggest that several GABA analogues can be used as research tools to study the distinctive physiology of GABA-ρ1 and GABA-ρ2 receptors. Furthermore, their partial agonist effect may hold promise for the future discovery of selective modulatory agents on GABA_A receptors.

Dementia model mice exhibited improvements of neuropsychiatric symptoms as well as cognitive dysfunction with neural cell transplantation

Elderly patients with dementia suffer from cognitive dysfunctions and neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) such as anxiety and depression. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a form of age-related dementia, and loss of cholinergic neurons is intimately associated with development of AD symptoms. We and others have reported that neural cell transplantation ameliorated cognitive dysfunction in AD model mice. It remains largely unclear whether neural cell transplantation ameliorates the NPS of AD. It would be interesting to determine whether NPS correlates with cognitive dysfunctions before and after neural cell transplantation in AD model mice. Based on the revalidation of our previous data from a Morris water maze test, we found that neural cell transplantation improved anxiety and depression significantly and marginally affected locomotion activity in AD mice. A correlation analysis revealed that the spatial learning function of AD mice was correlated with their NPS scores both before and after cell transplantation in a similar manner. In contrast, in the mice subjected to cell transplantation, spatial reference memory function was not correlated with NPS scores. These results suggested the neural cell transplantation in the AD model mice significantly improved NPS to the same degree as cognitive dysfunctions, possibly via distinct mechanisms, such as the cholinergic and GABAergic systems.

Variability and Reliability of Paired-Pulse Depression and Cortical Oscillation Induced by Median Nerve Stimulation

Paired-pulse depression (PPD) has been widely used to investigate the functional profiles of somatosensory cortical inhibition. However, PPD induced by somatosensory stimulation is variable, and the reasons for between- and within-subject PPD variability remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to clarify the factors influencing PPD variability induced by somatosensory stimulation. The study participants were 19 healthy volunteers. First, we investigated the relationship between the PPD ratio of each component (N20m, P35m, and P60m) of the somatosensory magnetic field, and the alpha, beta, and gamma band changes in power [event-related desynchronization (ERD) and event-related synchronization (ERS)] induced by median nerve stimulation. Second, because brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene polymorphisms reportedly influence the PPD ratio, we assessed whether BDNF genotype influences PPD ratio variability. Finally, we evaluated the test-retest reliability of PPD and the alpha, beta, and gamma ERD/ERS induced by somatosensory stimulation. Significant positive correlations were observed between the P60m_PPD ratio and beta power change, and the P60m_PPD ratio was significantly smaller for the beta ERD group than for the beta ERS group. P35m_PPD was found to be robust and highly reproducible; however, P60m_PPD reproducibility was poor. In addition, the ICC values for alpha, beta, and gamma ERD/ERS were 0.680, 0.760, and 0.552 respectively. These results suggest that the variability of PPD for the P60m deflection may be influenced by the ERD/ERS magnitude, which is induced by median nerve stimulation.

GABA-ρ receptors: distinctive functions and molecular pharmacology

The homomeric GABA-ρ ligand-gated ion channels (also known as GABA_C or GABA_A -ρ receptors) are similar to heteromeric GABA_A receptors in structure, function and mechanism of action. However, their distinctive pharmacological properties and distribution make them of special interest. This review focuses on GABA-ρ ion channel structure, ligand selectivity toward ρ receptors over heteromeric GABA_A receptor sub-types and selectivity between different homomeric ρ sub-type receptors. Several GABA analogues show selectivity at homomeric GABA-ρ receptors over heteromeric GABA_A receptors. More recently, some synthetic ligands have been found to show selectivity at receptors formed from one ρ subtype over others. The unique pharmacological profiles of these agents are discussed in this review. The classical binding site of GABA within the orthosteric site of GABA-ρ homomeric receptors is discussed in detail regarding the loops and residues that constitute the binding site. The ligand-residue interactions in this classical binding and those of mutant receptors are discussed. The structure and conformations of GABA are discussed in regard to its flexibility and molecular properties. Although the binding mode of GABA is difficult to predict, several interactions between GABA and the receptor assist in predicting its potential conformation and mode of action. The structure-activity relationships of GABA and structurally key ligands at ρ receptors are described and discussed.

Kidins220/ARMS is a novel modulator of short-term synaptic plasticity in hippocampal GABAergic neurons

Kidins220 (Kinase D interacting substrate of 220 kDa)/ARMS (Ankyrin Repeat-rich Membrane Spanning) is a scaffold protein highly expressed in the nervous system. Previous work on neurons with altered Kidins220/ARMS expression suggested that this protein plays multiple roles in synaptic function. In this study, we analyzed the effects of Kidins220/ARMS ablation on basal synaptic transmission and on a variety of short-term plasticity paradigms in both excitatory and inhibitory synapses using a recently described Kidins220 full knockout mouse. Hippocampal neuronal cultures prepared from embryonic Kidins220^−/− (KO) and wild type (WT) littermates were used for whole-cell patch-clamp recordings of spontaneous and evoked synaptic activity. Whereas glutamatergic AMPA receptor-mediated responses were not significantly affected in KO neurons, specific differences were detected in evoked GABAergic transmission. The recovery from synaptic depression of inhibitory post-synaptic currents in WT cells showed biphasic kinetics, both in response to paired-pulse and long-lasting train stimulation, while in KO cells the respective slow components were strongly reduced. We demonstrate that the slow recovery from synaptic depression in WT cells is caused by a transient reduction of the vesicle release probability, which is absent in KO neurons. These results suggest that Kidins220/ARMS is not essential for basal synaptic transmission and various forms of short-term plasticity, but instead plays a novel role in the mechanisms regulating the recovery of synaptic strength in GABAergic synapses.

The GABA(A)ρ receptors in hippocampal spontaneous activity and their distribution in hippocampus, amygdala and visual cortex

A bicuculline-resistant and TPMPA-sensitive GABAergic component was identified in hippocampal neurons in culture and in acute isolated brain slices. In both preparations, total GABAergic activity showed two inactivation kinetics: fast and slow. RT-PCR, in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry detected expression of GABAρ subunits. Immunogold and electron microscopy indicated that the receptors are mostly extrasynaptic. In addition, by RT-PCR and immunofluorescence we found GABAρ present in amygdala and visual cortex.

Medicinal chemistry of ρ GABAC receptors

The inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA, is a low-molecular-weight molecule that can achieve many low-energy conformations, which are recognized by GABA receptors and transporters. In this article, we assess the structure–activity relationship profiles of GABA analogs at the ionotropic ρ GABAC receptor. Such studies have significantly contributed to the design and development of potent and selective agonists and antagonists for this subclass of GABA receptors. With these tools in hand, the role of ρ GABAC receptors is slowly being realized. Of particular interest is the development of selective phosphinic acid analogs of GABA and their potential use in sleep disorders, inhibiting the development of myopia, and in improving learning and memory.

Neurochemicals for the investigation of GABA(C) receptors

GABA(C) receptors are being investigated for their role in many aspects of nervous system function including memory, myopia, pain and sleep. There is evidence for functional GABA(C) receptors in many tissues such as retina, hippocampus, spinal cord, superior colliculus, pituitary and the gut. This review describes a variety of neurochemicals that have been shown to be useful in distinguishing GABA(C) receptors from other receptors for the major inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA. Some selective agonists (including (+)-CAMP and 5-methyl-IAA), competitive antagonists (such as TPMPA, (±)-cis-3-ACPBPA and aza-THIP), positive (allopregnanolone) and negative modulators (epipregnanolone, loreclezole) are described. Neurochemicals that may assist in distinguishing between homomeric ρ1 and ρ2 GABA(C) receptors (2-methyl-TACA and cyclothiazide) are also covered. Given their less widespread distribution, lower abundance and relative structural simplicity compared to GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptors, GABA(C) receptors are attractive drug targets.