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Tsai YC, Hleihil M, Otomo K, Abegg A, Cavaccini A, Panzanelli P, Cramer T, Ferrari KD, Barrett MJP, Bosshard G, Karayannis T, Weber B, Tyagarajan SK, Stobart JL. The gephyrin scaffold modulates cortical layer 2/3 pyramidal neuron responsiveness to single whisker stimulation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4169. [PMID: 38379020 PMCID: PMC10879104 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54720-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Gephyrin is the main scaffolding protein at inhibitory postsynaptic sites, and its clusters are the signaling hubs where several molecular pathways converge. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of gephyrin alter GABAA receptor clustering at the synapse, but it is unclear how this affects neuronal activity at the circuit level. We assessed the contribution of gephyrin PTMs to microcircuit activity in the mouse barrel cortex by slice electrophysiology and in vivo two-photon calcium imaging of layer 2/3 (L2/3) pyramidal cells during single-whisker stimulation. Our results suggest that, depending on the type of gephyrin PTM, the neuronal activities of L2/3 pyramidal neurons can be differentially modulated, leading to changes in the size of the neuronal population responding to the single-whisker stimulation. Furthermore, we show that gephyrin PTMs have their preference for selecting synaptic GABAA receptor subunits. Our results identify an important role of gephyrin and GABAergic postsynaptic sites for cortical microcircuit function during sensory stimulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Chen Tsai
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Neuroscience Zurich (ZNZ), Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mohammad Hleihil
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Neuroscience Zurich (ZNZ), Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kanako Otomo
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrin Abegg
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anna Cavaccini
- Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patrizia Panzanelli
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi Montalcini, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Teresa Cramer
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Neuroscience Zurich (ZNZ), Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Kim David Ferrari
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Neuroscience Zurich (ZNZ), Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Matthew J P Barrett
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Neuroscience Zurich (ZNZ), Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Giovanna Bosshard
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Theofanis Karayannis
- Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Bruno Weber
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Neuroscience Zurich (ZNZ), Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Shiva K Tyagarajan
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Neuroscience Zurich (ZNZ), Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jillian L Stobart
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
- College of Pharmacy, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, R3E 0T5, Canada.
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Ghamkharinejad G, Marashi SH, Foolad F, Javan M, Fathollahi Y. Unconditioned and learned morphine tolerance influence hippocampal-dependent short-term memory and the subjacent expression of GABA-A receptor alpha subunits. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0253902. [PMID: 34500453 PMCID: PMC8428970 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0253902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND ɣ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) facilitator valproic acid may be able to curb memory disruption induced by morphine exposure. OBJECTIVE The effects of the GABA facilitator valproic acid on the behavioral tolerance induced by morphine were investigated. Then hippocampal-dependent tasks named spatial-working and short-term memory procedures using the Y-maze apparatus were examined in morphine tolerant rats. Finally, the changes in the expression of hippocampal GABA-A receptors underlying morphine tolerance were also examined. METHODS Rats were treated with daily morphine injections, with or without distinct contextual pairing. To examine the effect of valproic acid on morphine tolerance expression, valproic acid was pretreated an hour before morphine. Spatial-working and short-term memory procedures using the Y-maze apparatus were examined in morphine tolerant rats. Afterwards the changes in the expression of hippocampal GABAα receptors using the quantitative real-time PCR and western blot techniques to detect GABArα subunits mRNAs and protein level were studied. RESULTS Our results showed that both learned and non-associative morphine tolerance influence short-term memory and the subjacent expression of GABArα mRNAs and protein level. Despite its attenuating effects on the development and expression of both learned and non-associative morphine tolerance, only associative morphine tolerance-induced memory dysfunction was ameliorated by valproic acid pretreatment. We also found that the expression of GABArα1, α2, α5 subunits mRNAs and GABAα protein level were affected heavier in associative morphine tolerant rats. CONCLUSION Our data supports the hypothesis that unconditioned and learned morphine tolerance influences short-term memory and the expression of GABArα 1, α2, α5 mRNAs and GABArα protein level differently, and adds to our understanding of the behavioral and molecular aspects of the learned tolerance to morphine effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghazaleh Ghamkharinejad
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Hossein Marashi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Forough Foolad
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Javan
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Yaghoub Fathollahi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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3
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Nuwer JL, Brady ML, Povysheva NV, Coyne A, Jacob TC. Sustained treatment with an α5 GABA A receptor negative allosteric modulator delays excitatory circuit development while maintaining GABAergic neurotransmission. Neuropharmacology 2021; 197:108724. [PMID: 34284042 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
α5 subunit GABA type A receptor (GABAAR) preferring negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) are cognitive enhancers with antidepressant-like effects. α5-NAM success in treating mouse models of neurodevelopmental disorders with excessive inhibition have led to Phase 2 clinical trials for Down syndrome. Despite in vivo efficacy, no study has examined the effects of continued α5-NAM treatment on inhibitory and excitatory synapse plasticity to identify mechanisms of action. Here we used L-655,708, an imidazobenzodiazepine that acts as a highly selective but weak α5-NAM, to investigate the impact of sustained treatment on hippocampal neuron synapse and dendrite development. We show that 2-day pharmacological reduction of α5-GABAAR signaling from DIV12-14, when GABAARs contribute to depolarization, delays dendritic spine maturation and the NMDA receptor (NMDAR) GluN2B/GluN2A developmental shift. In contrast, α5-NAM treatment from DIV19-21, when hyperpolarizing GABAAR signaling predominates, enhances surface synaptic GluN2A while decreasing GluN2B. Despite changes in NMDAR subtype surface levels and localization, total levels of key excitatory synapse proteins were largely unchanged, and mEPSCs were unaltered. Importantly, 2-day α5-NAM treatment does not alter the total surface levels or distribution of α5-GABAARs, reduce the gephyrin inhibitory synaptic scaffold, or impair phasic or tonic inhibition. Furthermore, α5-NAM inhibition of the GABAAR tonic current in mature neurons is maintained after 2-day α5-NAM treatment, suggesting reduced tolerance liability, in contrast to other clinically relevant GABAAR-targeting drugs such as benzodiazepines. Together, these results show that α5-GABAARs contribute to dendritic spine maturation and excitatory synapse development via a NMDAR dependent mechanism without perturbing overall neuronal excitability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Nuwer
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Megan L Brady
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nadya V Povysheva
- Department of Neuroscience and Center for Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Amanda Coyne
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Tija C Jacob
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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4
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Bojić MG, Todorović L, Santrač A, Mian MY, Sharmin D, Cook JM, Savić MM. Vasodilatory effects of a variety of positive allosteric modulators of GABA A receptors on rat thoracic aorta. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 899:174023. [PMID: 33722589 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 02/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Different subtypes of GABAA (gamma-aminobutyric acid A) receptors, through their specific regional and cellular localization, are involved in the manifestation of various functions, both at the central and peripheral levels. We hypothesized that various non-neuronal GABAA receptors are expressed on blood vessels, through which positive allosteric modulators of GABAA receptors exhibit vasodilatory effects. This study involved two parts: one to determine the presence of α1-6 subunit GABAA receptor mRNAs in the rat thoracic aorta, and the other to determine the vasoactivity of the various selective and non-selective positive GABAA receptor modulators: zolpidem (α1-selective), XHe-III-074 (α4-selective), MP-III-022 (α5-selective), DK-I-56-1 (α6-selective), SH-I-048A and diazepam (non-selective). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis data demonstrated for the first time the expression of α1, α2, α3, α4 and α5 subunits in the rat thoracic aorta tissue. Tissue bath assays on isolated rat aortic rings revealed significant vasodilatory effects of diazepam, SH-I-048A, XHe-III-074, MP-III-022 and DK-I-56-1, all in terms of achieved relaxations (over 50% of relative tension decrease), as well as in terms of preventive effects on phenylephrine (PE) contraction. Diazepam was the most efficient ligand in the present study, while zolpidem showed the weakest vascular effects. In addition, diazepam-induced relaxations in the presence of antagonists PK11195 or bicuculline were significantly reduced (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively) at lower concentrations of diazepam (10-7 M and 3 × 10-7 M). The present work suggests that the observed vasoactivity is due to modulation of "vascular" GABAA receptors, which after further detailed research may provide a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milica Gajić Bojić
- Center for Biomedical Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Banja Luka, 16 Save Mrkalja St, 78000, Banja Luka, Republic of Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Lidija Todorović
- Laboratory for Radiobiology and Molecular Genetics, Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Anja Santrač
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, 450 Vojvode Stepe St, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Md Yeunus Mian
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 3210 N. Cramer St., Milwaukee, WI, 53201, USA
| | - Dishary Sharmin
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 3210 N. Cramer St., Milwaukee, WI, 53201, USA
| | - James M Cook
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Milwaukee Institute for Drug Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 3210 N. Cramer St., Milwaukee, WI, 53201, USA
| | - Miroslav M Savić
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, 450 Vojvode Stepe St, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
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Kasugai Y, Vogel E, Hörtnagl H, Schönherr S, Paradiso E, Hauschild M, Göbel G, Milenkovic I, Peterschmitt Y, Tasan R, Sperk G, Shigemoto R, Sieghart W, Singewald N, Lüthi A, Ferraguti F. Structural and Functional Remodeling of Amygdala GABAergic Synapses in Associative Fear Learning. Neuron 2019; 104:781-794.e4. [PMID: 31543297 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Revised: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Associative learning is thought to involve different forms of activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. Although previous studies have mostly focused on learning-related changes occurring at excitatory glutamatergic synapses, we found that associative learning, such as fear conditioning, also entails long-lasting functional and structural plasticity of GABAergic synapses onto pyramidal neurons of the murine basal amygdala. Fear conditioning-mediated structural remodeling of GABAergic synapses was associated with a change in mIPSC kinetics and an increase in the fraction of synaptic benzodiazepine-sensitive (BZD) GABAA receptors containing the α2 subunit without altering the intrasynaptic distribution and overall amount of BZD-GABAA receptors. These structural and functional synaptic changes were partly reversed by extinction training. These findings provide evidence that associative learning, such as Pavlovian fear conditioning and extinction, sculpts inhibitory synapses to regulate inhibition of active neuronal networks, a process that may tune amygdala circuit responses to threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Kasugai
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Elisabeth Vogel
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel 4058, Switzerland
| | - Heide Hörtnagl
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Sabine Schönherr
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Enrica Paradiso
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Markus Hauschild
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy and CMBI, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Georg Göbel
- Department of Medical Statistics, Informatics and Health Economics, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Ivan Milenkovic
- Center for Brain Research, Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Yvan Peterschmitt
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria; Center for Brain Research, Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Ramon Tasan
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Günther Sperk
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Ryuichi Shigemoto
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneuburg 3400, Austria
| | - Werner Sieghart
- Center for Brain Research, Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Nicolas Singewald
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Institute of Pharmacy and CMBI, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria
| | - Andreas Lüthi
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel 4058, Switzerland; University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Ferraguti
- Department of Pharmacology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck 6020, Austria.
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6
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Jacob TC. Neurobiology and Therapeutic Potential of α5-GABA Type A Receptors. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:179. [PMID: 31396049 PMCID: PMC6668551 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
α5 subunit containing GABA type A receptors (GABAARs) have long been an enigmatic receptor subtype of interest due to their specific brain distribution, unusual surface localization and key role in synaptic plasticity, cognition and memory. These receptors are uniquely positioned to sculpt both the developing and mature hippocampal circuitry due to high overall expression and a distinct peak within the critical synapse formation period during the second postnatal week. Unlike the majority of other GABAARs, they exhibit both receptor clustering at extrasynaptic sites via interactions with the radixin scaffold as well as synaptic sites via gephyrin, thus contributing respectively to tonic currents and synaptic GABAergic neurotransmission. α5 GABAAR signaling can be altered in neurodevelopmental disorders including autism and mental retardation and by inflammation in CNS injury and disease. Due to the unique physiology and pharmacology of α5 GABAARs, drugs targeting these receptors are being developed and tested as treatments for neurodevelopmental disorders, depression, schizophrenia, and mild cognitive impairment. This review article focuses on advances in understanding how the α5 subunit contributes to GABAAR neurobiology. In particular, I discuss both recent insights and remaining knowledge gaps for the functional role of these receptors, pathologies associated with α5 GABAAR dysfunction, and the effects and potential therapeutic uses of α5 receptor subtype targeted drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tija C Jacob
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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7
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Sequeira A, Shen K, Gottlieb A, Limon A. Human brain transcriptome analysis finds region- and subject-specific expression signatures of GABA AR subunits. Commun Biol 2019; 2:153. [PMID: 31069263 PMCID: PMC6494906 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0413-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered expression of GABA receptors (GABAARs) has been implicated in neurological and psychiatric disorders, but limited information about region-specific GABAAR subunit expression in healthy human brains, heteromeric assembly of major isoforms, and their collective organization across healthy individuals, are major roadblocks to understanding their role in non-physiological states. Here, by using microarray and RNA-Seq datasets-from single cell nuclei to global brain expression-from the Allen Institute, we find that transcriptional expression of GABAAR subunits is anatomically organized according to their neurodevelopmental origin. The data show a combination of complementary and mutually-exclusive expression patterns that delineate major isoforms, and which is highly stereotypical across brains from control donors. We summarize the region-specific signature of GABAR subunits per subject and its variability in a control population sample that can be used as a reference for remodeling changes during homeostatic rearrangements of GABAAR subunits after physiological, pharmacological or pathological challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adolfo Sequeira
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, School of Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA USA
| | - Kevin Shen
- Department of Neurology, Mitchel Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA
| | - Assaf Gottlieb
- School of Biomedical Informatics, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX USA
| | - Agenor Limon
- Department of Neurology, Mitchel Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX USA
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Müller Herde A, Benke D, Ralvenius WT, Mu L, Schibli R, Zeilhofer HU, Krämer SD. GABAA receptor subtypes in the mouse brain: Regional mapping and diazepam receptor occupancy by in vivo [18F]flumazenil PET. Neuroimage 2017; 150:279-291. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2017.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Revised: 01/22/2017] [Accepted: 02/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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Nakamura Y, Morrow DH, Modgil A, Huyghe D, Deeb TZ, Lumb MJ, Davies PA, Moss SJ. Proteomic Characterization of Inhibitory Synapses Using a Novel pHluorin-tagged γ-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor, Type A (GABAA), α2 Subunit Knock-in Mouse. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:12394-407. [PMID: 27044742 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.724443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of γ-aminobutyric acid receptors (GABAARs) at the appropriate postsynaptic sites is critical for determining the efficacy of fast inhibitory neurotransmission. Although we know that the majority of synaptic GABAAR subtypes are assembled from α1-3, β, and γ2 subunits, our understanding of how neurons facilitate their targeting to and stabilization at inhibitory synapses is rudimentary. To address these issues, we have created knock-in mice in which the pH-sensitive green fluorescent protein (GFP) and the Myc epitope were introduced to the extracellular domain of the mature receptor α2 subunit (pHα2). Using immunoaffinity purification and mass spectroscopy, we identified a stable complex of 174 proteins that were associated with pHα2, including other GABAAR subunits, and previously identified receptor-associated proteins such as gephyrin and collybistin. 149 of these proteins were novel GABAAR binding partners and included G-protein-coupled receptors and ion channel subunits, proteins that regulate trafficking and degradation, regulators of protein phosphorylation, GTPases, and a number of proteins that regulate their activity. Notably, members of the postsynaptic density family of proteins that are critical components of excitatory synapses were not associated with GABAARs. Crucially, we demonstrated for a subset of these novel proteins (including cullin1, ephexin, potassium channel tetramerization domain containing protein 12, mitofusin2, metabotropic glutamate receptor 5, p21-activated kinase 7, and Ras-related protein 5A) bind directly to the intracellular domains of GABAARs, validating our proteomic analysis. Thus, our experiments illustrate the complexity of the GABAAR proteome and enhance our understanding of the mechanisms neurons use to construct inhibitory synapses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuko Nakamura
- From the Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston Massachusetts 02111 and
| | - Danielle H Morrow
- From the Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston Massachusetts 02111 and
| | - Amit Modgil
- From the Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston Massachusetts 02111 and
| | - Deborah Huyghe
- From the Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston Massachusetts 02111 and
| | - Tarek Z Deeb
- From the Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston Massachusetts 02111 and
| | - Michael J Lumb
- the Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Paul A Davies
- From the Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston Massachusetts 02111 and
| | - Stephen J Moss
- From the Department of Neuroscience, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston Massachusetts 02111 and the Department of Neuroscience, Physiology and Pharmacology, University College, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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10
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Brady ML, Jacob TC. Synaptic localization of α5 GABA (A) receptors via gephyrin interaction regulates dendritic outgrowth and spine maturation. Dev Neurobiol 2015; 75:1241-51. [PMID: 25663431 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2014] [Revised: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
GABAA receptor subunit composition is a critical determinant of receptor localization and physiology, with synaptic receptors generating phasic inhibition and extrasynaptic receptors producing tonic inhibition. Extrasynaptically localized α5 GABAA receptors are largely responsible for tonic inhibition in hippocampal neurons. However, we show here that inhibitory synapses also contain a constant level of α5 GABAA receptors throughout neuronal development, as measured by its colocalization with gephyrin, the inhibitory postsynaptic scaffolding protein. Immunoprecipitation of the α5 subunit from both cultured neurons and adult rat brain coimmunoprecipitated gephyrin, confirming this interaction in vivo. Furthermore, the α5 subunit can interact with gephyrin independent of other synaptically localized alpha subunits, as shown by immunoprecipitation experiments in HEK cells. By replacing the α5 predicted gephyrin binding domain (Residues 370-385) with either the high affinity gephyrin binding domain of the α2 subunit or homologous residues from the extrasynaptic α4 subunit that does not interact with gephyrin, α5 GABAA receptor localization shifted into or out of the synapse, respectively. These shifts in the ratio of synaptic/extrasynaptic α5 localization disrupted dendritic outgrowth and spine maturation. In contrast to the predominant view of α5 GABAA receptors being extrasynaptic and modulating tonic inhibition, we identify an intimate association of the α5 subunit with gephyrin, resulting in constant synaptic levels of α5 GABAA R throughout circuit formation that regulates neuronal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Brady
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15261
| | - Tija C Jacob
- Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15261
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11
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Balic E, Rudolph U, Fritschy JM, Mohler H, Benke D. The alpha5(H105R) mutation impairs alpha5 selective binding properties by altered positioning of the alpha5 subunit in GABAA receptors containing two distinct types of alpha subunits. J Neurochem 2009; 110:244-54. [PMID: 19457072 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2009.06119.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
GABA(A) receptors are pentameric ligand-gated ion channels that are major mediators of fast inhibitory neurotransmission. Clinically relevant GABA(A) receptor subtypes are assembled from alpha5(1-3, 5), beta1-3 and the gamma2 subunit. They exhibit a stoichiometry of two alpha, two beta and one gamma subunit, with two GABA binding sites located at the alpha/beta and one benzodiazepine binding site located at the alpha/gamma subunit interface. Introduction of the H105R point mutation into the alpha5 subunit, to render alpha5 subunit-containing receptors insensitive to the clinically important benzodiazepine site agonist diazepam, unexpectedly resulted in a reduced level of alpha5 subunit protein in alpha5(H105R) mice. In this study, we show that the alpha5(H105R) mutation did not affect cell surface expression and targeting of the receptors or their assembly into macromolecular receptor complexes but resulted in a severe reduction of alpha5-selective ligand binding. Immunoprecipitation studies suggest that the diminished alpha5-selective binding is presumably due to a repositioning of the alpha5(H105R) subunit in GABA(A) receptor complexes containing two different alpha subunits. These findings imply an important role of histidine 105 in determining the position of the alpha5 subunit within the receptor complex by determining the affinity for assembly with the gamma2 subunit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ela Balic
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Winterhurerstrasse, Zurich, Switzerland
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Laurén HB, Lopez-Picon FR, Kukko-Lukjanov TK, Uusi-Oukari M, Holopainen IE. Status epilepticus alters zolpidem sensitivity of [3H]flunitrazepam binding in the developing rat brain. Neuroscience 2007; 146:802-11. [PMID: 17360122 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2007.01.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2006] [Revised: 01/15/2007] [Accepted: 01/30/2007] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult brain, exerts its effects through multiple GABA(A) receptor subtypes with different pharmacological profiles, the alpha subunit variant mainly determining the binding properties of benzodiazepine site on the receptor protein. In adult experimental epileptic animals and in humans with epilepsy, increased excitation, i.e. seizures, alters GABA(A) receptor subunit expression leading to changes in the receptor structure, function, and pharmacology. Whether this also occurs in the developing brain, in which GABA has a trophic, excitatory effect, is not known. We have now applied autoradiography to study properties of GABA(A)/benzodiazepine receptors in 9-day-old rats acutely (6 h) and sub-acutely (7 days) after kainic acid-induced status epilepticus by analyzing displacement of [(3)H]flunitrazepam binding by zolpidem, a ligand selective for the alpha1beta2gamma2 receptor subtype. Regional changes in the binding properties were further corroborated at the cellular level by immunocytochemistry. The results revealed that status epilepticus significantly decreased displacement of [(3)H]flunitrazepam binding by zolpidem 6 h after the kainic acid-treatment in the dentate gyrus of the hippocampus, parietal cortex, and thalamus, and in the hippocampal CA3 and CA1 cell layers 1 week after the treatment. Our results suggest that status epilepticus modifies region-specifically the pharmacological properties of GABA(A) receptors, and may thus disturb the normal, strictly developmentally-regulated maturation of zolpidem-sensitive GABA(A) receptors in the immature rat brain. A part of these changes could be due to alterations in the cell surface expression of receptor subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- H B Laurén
- Department of Pharmacology, Drug Development, and Therapeutics, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Itäinen Pitkäkatu 4, Turku, FIN-20014, Finland
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Paz Gavilán M, Vela J, Castaño A, Ramos B, del Río JC, Vitorica J, Ruano D. Cellular environment facilitates protein accumulation in aged rat hippocampus. Neurobiol Aging 2006; 27:973-82. [PMID: 15964666 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2005.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2004] [Revised: 04/18/2005] [Accepted: 05/13/2005] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Aging represents the main risk factor to develop Alzheimer disease (AD) and protein aggregation constitutes a pathological hallmark thought to be involved in the etiology of this disease. Here, we show that, in basal conditions, the expression of chaperones calnexin, protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and Grp78 was decreased in aged hippocampus, whereas the protein ubiquitination increased, suggesting the existence of age-related deficits in the systems involved in the defense against unfolded proteins. Interestingly, when cellular stress was induced by intra-hippocampal lactacystin injection, the aged rats were less efficient than young animals in alleviating the protein accumulation and, as an important factor, did not induce the expression of chaperones as young animals. However, the expression of the pro-apoptotic factor CHOP/GADD153 was induced and caspase-12 was activated in stressed aged rats but not in young animals. Current results demonstrated that unfolding protein response (UPR) is not correctly activated in aged rat hippocampus. Consequently, the up-regulation of apoptotic pathway mediators is increased in aged rats. Results might provide further understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms of age-related neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Paz Gavilán
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Bromatología, Toxicología y Medicina Legal, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, C/ Profesor García González no. 2, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
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Ruano D, Revilla E, Gavilán MP, Vizuete ML, Pintado C, Vitorica J, Castaño A. Role of p38 and inducible nitric oxide synthase in the in vivo dopaminergic cells' degeneration induced by inflammatory processes after lipopolysaccharide injection. Neuroscience 2006; 140:1157-68. [PMID: 16713109 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2006.02.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2005] [Revised: 02/24/2006] [Accepted: 02/25/2006] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating evidences suggest that neuroinflammation is involved in the progressive death of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease. Several studies have shown that intranigral injection of lipopolysaccharide induces inflammation in the substantia nigra leading to death of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive cells. To better understand how the inflammatory response gives rise to neurotoxicity we induced inflammation in substantia nigra by injecting lipopolysaccharide. The damage of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons was evaluated by immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription-PCR and Western blot analysis of tyrosine hydroxylase. In parallel, activation of microglial cells, a hallmark of inflammation in CNS, was revealed by immunohistochemistry. Similarly the expression of molecules involved in the inflammatory response and apoptotic pathway was also tested, such as cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6), inducible nitric oxide synthase and caspase-11. Tyrosine hydroxylase expression (both mRNA and protein) started to decrease around 3 days post-injection. At the mRNA level, our results showed that the cytokines expression peaked shortly (3-6 h) after lipopolysaccharide injection, followed by the induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase and caspase-11 (14 h). However, inducible nitric oxide synthase protein peaked at 24 h and lasted for 14 days. The lipopolysaccharide-induced loss of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons was partially inhibited by co-injection of lipopolysaccharide with S-methylisothiourea, an inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor. Co-injections of lipopolysaccharide with SB203580, a p38 MAP kinase inhibitor, reduced inducible nitric oxide synthase and caspase-11 mRNA expression, and also rescued dopaminergic neurons in substantia nigra. In summary, this is the first report to describe in vivo the temporal profile of the expression of these inflammatory mediators and proteins involved in dopaminergic neuronal death after intranigral injection of lipopolysaccharide. Moreover data strongly support that lipopolysaccharide-induced dopaminergic cellular death in substantia nigra could be mediated, at least in part, by the p38 signal pathway leading to activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase and caspase-11.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Ruano
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Bromatología, Toxicología y Medicina Legal, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
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15
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Savić MM, Obradović DI, Ugresić ND, Cook JM, Yin W, Bokonjić DR. Bidirectional effects of benzodiazepine binding site ligands in the elevated plus-maze: differential antagonism by flumazenil and beta-CCt. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2005; 79:279-90. [PMID: 15501303 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2004.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2004] [Revised: 07/01/2004] [Accepted: 07/28/2004] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Recent research using genetically modified mice has pointed to the specific contribution of individual receptor subtypes to the various effects of benzodiazepines. The aim of this study was to examine the relative significance of alpha(1)-containing GABA(A) receptors in the effects of modulators at the benzodiazepine site in the elevated plus-maze (EPM) under dim red light in rats. We tested the effects of the non-selective antagonist flumazenil (0-20.0 mg/kg), the preferential alpha(1)-subunit selective antagonist beta-carboline-3-carboxylate-t-butyl ester (beta-CCt, 0-30.0 mg/kg), the non-selective agonist midazolam (0-2.0 mg/kg), the preferential alpha(1)-subunit selective agonist zolpidem (0-2.0 mg/kg) and the non-selective inverse agonist methyl 6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (DMCM, 0-2.0 mg/kg). The influence of flumazenil (10.0 mg/kg) and beta-CCt (30.0 mg/kg) on the effects of both kinds of agonists were also examined. The standard spatio-temporal parameters reflecting anxiety (percentage of open arm entries and time) and locomotion (closed and total arm entries) were analyzed. beta-CCt did not affect behavior, while flumazenil at the highest dose (20.0 mg/kg) decreased indices of open arm activity and total arm entries. Midazolam at the dose of 1.0 mg/kg significantly increased the percentage of open arm time, whereas at 2.0 mg/kg both anxiety-related parameters were increased. In contrast to the open arm entries, the open arm time was independent of the decreased closed arm entries, observed at 2.0 mg/kg. Flumazenil abolished these effects, whereas beta-CCt partially potentiated the anxiolytic actions of midazolam. Zolpidem significantly increased both open-arm indices at 1.0 mg/kg, but the effect was dependent on the decreased closed arm entries. The selectivity of the anxiolytic-like effects of zolpidem was further checked under brighter white illumination. In these settings, the influence on anxiety-related, but not activity-related parameters, was absent. All of the activity-related effects of midazolam and zolpidem were mainly counteracted by both antagonists. DMCM produced significant anxiogenic effects at 1.0 mg/kg (open arm time) and 2.0 mg/kg (both parameters). beta-CCt (30.0 mg/kg) and flumazenil at higher dose (20.0 mg/kg) antagonized the effects of DMCM. The results indicate the anxiolytic effects of a non-selective benzodiazepine site agonist involve a predominant role of subunits other than alpha(1), whereas the behavioral indices of the anxiolytic-like properties of an alpha(1)-selective ligand, if observed, depend on the experimental settings and the changes in locomotor activity, and hence were behaviorally non-specific. The present results generally correspond well to the behavioral findings with the genetically modified mice. On the other hand, the relative significance of the alpha(1)-subunit in the anxiogenic effects of DMCM could not be clearly deduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miroslav M Savić
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia and Montenegro.
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Hamilton NM, Cooke AJ. α-Subunit selective modulators of GABAAreceptor function as CNS therapeutics. Expert Opin Ther Pat 2005. [DOI: 10.1517/13543776.12.10.1491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Benke D, Fakitsas P, Roggenmoser C, Michel C, Rudolph U, Mohler H. Analysis of the Presence and Abundance of GABAA Receptors Containing Two Different Types of α Subunits in Murine Brain Using Point-mutated α Subunits. J Biol Chem 2004; 279:43654-60. [PMID: 15304513 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m407154200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid, type A (GABAA) receptors are pentameric proteins of which the majority is composed of two alpha subunits, two beta subunits and one gamma subunit. It is well documented that two different types of alpha subunits can exist in a singles GABAA receptor complex. However, information on the abundance of such GABAA receptors is rather limited. Here we tested whether mice containing the His to Arg point mutation in the alpha1, alpha2, or alpha3 subunit at positions 101, 101, and 126, respectively, which render the respective subunits insensitive to diazepam, would be suitable to analyze this issue. Immunodepletion studies indicated that the His to Arg point mutation solely rendered those GABAA receptors totally insensitive to diazepam binding that contain two mutated alpha subunits in the receptor complex, whereas receptors containing one mutated and one heterologous alpha subunit not carrying the mutation remained sensitive to diazepam binding. This feature permitted a quantitative analysis of native GABAA receptors containing heterologous alpha subunits by comparing the diazepam-insensitive binding sites in mutant mouse lines containing one mutated alpha subunit with those present in mouse lines containing two different mutated alpha subunits. The data indicate that the alpha1alpha1-containing receptors with 61% is the most abundant receptor subtype in brain, whereas the alpha1alpha2 (13%), alpha1alpha3 (15%), alpha2alpha2 (12%), alpha2alpha3 (2%), and alpha3alpha3 combinations (4%) are considerably less expressed. Only within the alpha1-containing receptor population does the combination of equal alpha subunits (84% alpha1alpha1, 7% alpha1alpha2, and 8% alpha1alpha3) prevail, whereas in the alpha2-containing receptor population (46% alpha2alpha2, 36% alpha2alpha1, and 19% alpha2alpha3) and particularly in the alpha3-containing receptor population (27% alpha3alpha3, 56% alpha3alpha1, and 19% alpha3alpha2), the receptors with two different types of alpha subunits predominate. This experimental approach provides the basis for a detailed analysis of the abundance of GABAA receptors containing heterologous alpha subunits on a brain regional level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dietmar Benke
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057, Switzerland.
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Ramos B, Lopez-Tellez JF, Vela J, Baglietto-Vargas D, del Rio JC, Ruano D, Gutierrez A, Vitorica J. Expression of alpha 5 GABAA receptor subunit in developing rat hippocampus. BRAIN RESEARCH. DEVELOPMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH 2004; 151:87-98. [PMID: 15246695 DOI: 10.1016/j.devbrainres.2004.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/13/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The GABAergic system plays an important role in the hippocampal development. Here we have studied the developmental expression of the alpha 5 subunit of the GABA(A) receptor (from rat hippocampus) by RT-competitive PCR, immunoblot and immunocytochemistry. Our results demonstrated an early induction of the alpha 5 subunit expression (at mRNA and protein levels) during the first postnatal week, peaking at P5 and decreasing after this age. The peak of alpha 5 subunit expression precedes the peak of expression for the synaptophysin, GAD65 and GAD67. Thus, the increase in the alpha 5 GABA(A) receptor subunit expression may precede the GABAergic synaptogenesis. Importantly, between P0 and P7, the expression of the alpha 5 subunit was concentrated at the cell somata of the pyramidal and granular cells. After P10, its localization shifted from the cell bodies to the dendritic layers. This developmental pattern is similar to that reported for the Na(+)-K(+)-2Cl(-) system and it might be correlated with the transition from excitatory to inhibitory GABAergic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanca Ramos
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Bromatología, Toxicología y Medicina Legal, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Sevilla, C/Prof. Garcia Gonzalez, 41012, Spain
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Lopez-Tellez JF, Vela J, del Rio JC, Ramos B, Baglietto-Vargas D, Santa-Maria C, Ruano D, Gutierrez A, Vitorica J. Postnatal development of the alpha1 containing GABAA receptor subunit in rat hippocampus. BRAIN RESEARCH. DEVELOPMENTAL BRAIN RESEARCH 2004; 148:129-41. [PMID: 14757527 DOI: 10.1016/j.devbrainres.2003.11.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Here we have studied the developmental expression of alpha1 subunit of the GABAA receptor in comparison with the expression of alpha2 subunit and several GABAergic markers (parvalbumin (PV), calretinin (CR), somatostatin (SOM), neuropeptide Y (NPY) and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP)). The alpha1 expression (mRNA and protein) was low at birth and increased progressively until the adulthood. This expression pattern was similar to that observed for PV, opposite to that of CR (high at birth and decreased continuously until the adulthood) and differed from that observed for the alpha2 and neuropeptides (SOM, NPY and VIP) (in all cases, a clear peak in expression was observed at P10). We further investigated the expression of alpha1, PV and CR by immunohistochemistry. As expected, the alpha1 and the PV expression were low at birth and increased progressively until the adulthood. Both alpha1 and PV were co-expressed by the same interneuronal population, however, the maturation of the alpha1 subunit preceded to that of PV. Finally, we observed a gradient of maturation between the different fields of the hippocampus proper (CA2-3 preceded to CA1 and DG). This gradient could be related to the high expression of CR positive cells and fibers during the first 10 postnatal days, located principally in the stratum lacunosum moleculare of the CA2-3 layers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Felix Lopez-Tellez
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Genética y Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Málaga 29071, Spain
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Pöltl A, Hauer B, Fuchs K, Tretter V, Sieghart W. Subunit composition and quantitative importance of GABA(A) receptor subtypes in the cerebellum of mouse and rat. J Neurochem 2004; 87:1444-55. [PMID: 14713300 DOI: 10.1046/j.1471-4159.2003.02135.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
In cerebellum, 13 different GABA(A) receptor subunits are expressed. The number of different receptor subtypes formed in this tissue, their subunit composition and their quantitative importance so far has not been determined. In the present study, immunodepletion by immunoaffinity chromatography, as well as immunoprecipitation and western blot analysis was performed using 13 different subunit-specific antibodies to provide an overview on the subunit composition and abundance of GABA(A) receptor subtypes in mouse and rat cerebellum. Results obtained indicate that alpha1betaxgamma2, alpha1alpha6betaxgamma2, alpha6betaxgamma2, alpha6betaxdelta and alpha1alpha6betaxdelta are the major GABA(A) receptor subtypes present in the cerebellum. In addition, small amounts of alpha1betaxdelta receptors and a series of minor receptor subtypes containing alpha2, alpha3, alpha4, alpha5, gamma1 or gamma3 subunits are also present in the cerebellum. Whereas the abundance of alpha1alpha6betaxgamma2, alpha6betaxdelta and alpha1alpha6betaxdelta receptors is different in mouse and rat cerebellum, that of other receptors is quite similar in these tissues. Data obtained for the first time provide an overview on the GABA(A) receptor subtypes present in the cerebellum and represent the basis for further studies investigating changes in receptor expression and composition under pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelika Pöltl
- Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Brain Research Institute, University of Vienna and Section of Biochemical Psychiatry, University Clinic for Psychiatry, Vienna, Austria
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Kaufmann WA, Humpel C, Alheid GF, Marksteiner J. Compartmentation of alpha 1 and alpha 2 GABA(A) receptor subunits within rat extended amygdala: implications for benzodiazepine action. Brain Res 2003; 964:91-9. [PMID: 12573516 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-8993(02)04082-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The extended amygdala, a morphological and functional entity within the basal forebrain, is a neuronal substrate for emotional states like fear and anxiety. Anxiety disorders are commonly treated by benzodiazepines that mediate their action via GABA(A) receptors. The binding properties and action of benzodiazepines depend on the alpha-subunit profile of the hetero-pentameric receptors: whereas the alpha1 subunit is associated with benzodiazepine type I pharmacology and reportedly mediates sedative as well as amnesic actions of benzodiazepines, the alpha2 subunit confers benzodiazepine type II pharmacology and mediates the anxiolytic actions of benzodiazepines. We determined the localization of alpha1 and alpha2 subunits within the extended amygdala, identified by secretoneurin immunostaining, to define the morphological substrates for the diverse benzodiazepine actions. A moderate expression of the alpha1 subunit could be detected in compartments of the medial subdivision and a strong expression of the alpha2 subunit throughout the central subdivision. It is concluded that the alpha1 and alpha2 subunits are differentially expressed within the extended amygdala, indicating that this structure is compartmentalized with respect to function and benzodiazepine action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter A Kaufmann
- Centre for Molecular Biology and Neuroscience, Department of Anatomy, University of Oslo, N-0317 Oslo, Norway
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