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Dong L, Song LL, Zhao WJ, Zhao L, Tian L, Zheng Y. Modulatory effects of real-time electromagnetic stimulation on epileptiform activity in juvenile rat hippocampus based on multi-electrode array recordings. Brain Res Bull 2023; 198:27-35. [PMID: 37084982 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2023.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Electromagnetic stimulation (EMS) has proven to be useful for the focal suppression of epileptiform activity (EFA) in the hippocampus. There is a critical period during EFA for achieving the transition from brief interictal discharges (IIDs) to prolonged ictal discharges (IDs), and it is unknown whether EMS can modulate this transition. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the intensity- and time-dependent effect of EMS on the transition of EFA. A juvenile rat EFA model was constructed by perfusing magnesium-free artificial cerebrospinal fluid (aCSF) on brain slices, and the induced EFA was recorded using a micro-electrode array (MEA) platform. After a stable EFA event was recorded for some time, real-time pulsed magnetic stimulation with low and high peak-to-peak input magnetic field intensities was carried out. A 5-min intervention with real-time magnetic fields with low intensity was found to reduce the amplitude of IDs (ID events still existed), whereas a 5-min intervention with real-time magnetic fields with high input voltages completely suppressed IDs. Short-time magnetic fields (9s and 1min) with high or low input intensity had no effect on EFA. Real-time magnetic fields can block the normal EFA process from IIDs to IDs (i.e., a complete EFA cycle) and this suppression effect is dependent on input intensities and intervention duration. The experimental findings further indicate that magnetic stimulation may be chosen as an alternative antiepileptic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Dong
- School of Life Sciences, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China; State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Lin-Lin Song
- School of Life Sciences, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China; School of Electronic and Information Engineering, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Wen-Jun Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Ling Zhao
- School of Life Sciences, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Lei Tian
- School of Life Sciences, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China
| | - Yu Zheng
- School of Life Sciences, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China.
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2
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Kilb W. When Are Depolarizing GABAergic Responses Excitatory? Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:747835. [PMID: 34899178 PMCID: PMC8651619 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.747835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The membrane responses upon activation of GABA(A) receptors critically depend on the intracellular Cl− concentration ([Cl−]i), which is maintained by a set of transmembrane transporters for Cl−. During neuronal development, but also under several pathophysiological conditions, the prevailing expression of the Cl− loader NKCC1 and the low expression of the Cl− extruder KCC2 causes elevated [Cl−]i, which result in depolarizing GABAergic membrane responses. However, depolarizing GABAergic responses are not necessarily excitatory, as GABA(A) receptors also reduces the input resistance of neurons and thereby shunt excitatory inputs. To summarize our knowledge on the effect of depolarizing GABA responses on neuronal excitability, this review discusses theoretical considerations and experimental studies illustrating the relation between GABA conductances, GABA reversal potential and neuronal excitability. In addition, evidences for the complex spatiotemporal interaction between depolarizing GABAergic and glutamatergic inputs are described. Moreover, mechanisms that influence [Cl−]i beyond the expression of Cl− transporters are presented. And finally, several in vitro and in vivo studies that directly investigated whether GABA mediates excitation or inhibition during early developmental stages are summarized. In summary, these theoretical considerations and experimental evidences suggest that GABA can act as inhibitory neurotransmitter even under conditions that maintain substantial depolarizing membrane responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Werner Kilb
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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Lombardi A, Luhmann HJ, Kilb W. Modelling the spatial and temporal constrains of the GABAergic influence on neuronal excitability. PLoS Comput Biol 2021; 17:e1009199. [PMID: 34767548 PMCID: PMC8612559 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1009199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
GABA (γ-amino butyric acid) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult brain that can mediate depolarizing responses during development or after neuropathological insults. Under which conditions GABAergic membrane depolarizations are sufficient to impose excitatory effects is hard to predict, as shunting inhibition and GABAergic effects on spatiotemporal filtering of excitatory inputs must be considered. To evaluate at which reversal potential a net excitatory effect was imposed by GABA (EGABAThr), we performed a detailed in-silico study using simple neuronal topologies and distinct spatiotemporal relations between GABAergic and glutamatergic inputs. These simulations revealed for GABAergic synapses located at the soma an EGABAThr close to action potential threshold (EAPThr), while with increasing dendritic distance EGABAThr shifted to positive values. The impact of GABA on AMPA-mediated inputs revealed a complex temporal and spatial dependency. EGABAThr depends on the temporal relation between GABA and AMPA inputs, with a striking negative shift in EGABAThr for AMPA inputs appearing after the GABA input. The spatial dependency between GABA and AMPA inputs revealed a complex profile, with EGABAThr being shifted to values negative to EAPThr for AMPA synapses located proximally to the GABA input, while for distally located AMPA synapses the dendritic distance had only a minor effect on EGABAThr. For tonic GABAergic conductances EGABAThr was negative to EAPThr over a wide range of gGABAtonic values. In summary, these results demonstrate that for several physiologically relevant situations EGABAThr is negative to EAPThr, suggesting that depolarizing GABAergic responses can mediate excitatory effects even if EGABA did not reach EAPThr. The neurotransmitter GABA mediates an inhibitory action in the mature brain, while it was found that GABA provokes depolarizations in the immature brain or after neurological insults. It is, however, not clear to which extend these GABAergic depolarizations can contribute to an excitatory effect. In the present manuscript we approached this question with a computational model of a simplified neurons to determine what amount of a GABAergic depolarizing effect, which we quantified by the so called GABA reversal potential (EGABA), was required to turn GABAergic inhibition to excitation. The results of our simulations revealed that if GABA was applied alone a GABAergic excitation was induced when EGABA was around the action potential threshold. When GABA was applied together with additional excitatory inputs, which is the physiological situation in the brain, only for spatially and temporally correlated inputs EGABA was close to the action potential threshold. For situations in which the additional excitatory inputs appear after the GABA input or are distant to the GABA input, an excitatory effect of GABA could be observed already at EGABA substantially negative to the action potential threshold. This results indicate that even slightly depolarizing GABA responses, which may be induced during or after neurological insults, can potentially turn GABAergic inhibition into GABAergic excitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aniello Lombardi
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Heiko J. Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Werner Kilb
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Dong L, Li G, Gao Y, Lin L, Cao XB, Zheng Y. Exploring the Inhibitory Effect of Low-frequency Magnetic Fields on Epileptiform Discharges in Juvenile Rat Hippocampus. Neuroscience 2021; 467:1-15. [PMID: 34033871 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2021.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 10/01/2022]
Abstract
Stimulation with a low frequency electromagnetic field (LF-EMF) has proven to represent a powerful method for the suppression of seizures, as demonstrated in select clinical and laboratory studies. However, the mechanism by which LF-EMF suppresses seizures remains unclear. The purpose of the present study was to explore the modulatory effect of LF-EMF on epileptiform discharges (EDs) using rat hippocampal slices and investigate the underlying mechanisms that mediate these effects. EDs in hippocampal slices was induced by magnesium-free (zero-Mg2+) artificial cerebrospinal fluid (ACSF) and recorded using an in vitro micro-electrode array (MEA). A small sub-decimeter coil was designed and incorporated in a flexible magnetic stimulation device that allowed electromagnetic fields with different parameters to be delivered to slices. After a stable ED event was recorded, magnetic fields of 0.5 Hz (30 min) with a magnetic intensity of 0.13 mT (5 Vpp voltage input) and 0.25 mT (20 Vpp voltage input) were applied. The results indicated that a high-amplitude 0.5 Hz magnetic field could lead to persistent suppression of ictal discharges (IDs), while low-amplitude magnetic fields did not influence IDs. The persistent suppression of complex ED was prevented if the magnetic fields were applied in the presence of 10 μmol/L bicuculline (BIC), a γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor antagonist, while the application of BIC subsequent to a magnetic field application led to the reappearance of ID. The addition of BIC resulted in EDs that had previously been inhibited by magnetic fields, reappearing. Low-frequency magnetic stimulation was able to inhibit the conversion from interictal discharges (IIDs) or preictal discharges (PIDs) to IDs. This suppression was attributed to the modulation of GABAA receptor activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomedical Detecting Techniques & Instruments, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Gang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomedical Detecting Techniques & Instruments, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Yang Gao
- School of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Ling Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Biomedical Detecting Techniques & Instruments, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Xue-Bin Cao
- Department of Cardiology, 252 Hospital of PLA, Baoding, Hebei 071000, China.
| | - Yu Zheng
- School of Life Sciences, Tiangong University, Tianjin 300387, China.
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Kolbaev SN, Mohapatra N, Chen R, Lombardi A, Staiger JF, Luhmann HJ, Jedlicka P, Kilb W. NKCC-1 mediated Cl - uptake in immature CA3 pyramidal neurons is sufficient to compensate phasic GABAergic inputs. Sci Rep 2020; 10:18399. [PMID: 33110147 PMCID: PMC7591924 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-75382-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Activation of GABAA receptors causes in immature neurons a functionally relevant decrease in the intracellular Cl- concentration ([Cl-]i), a process termed ionic plasticity. Amount and duration of ionic plasticity depends on kinetic properties of [Cl-]i homeostasis. In order to characterize the capacity of Cl- accumulation and to quantify the effect of persistent GABAergic activity on [Cl-]i, we performed gramicidin-perforated patch-clamp recordings from CA3 pyramidal neurons of immature (postnatal day 4-7) rat hippocampal slices. These experiments revealed that inhibition of NKCC1 decreased [Cl-]i toward passive distribution with a time constant of 381 s. In contrast, active Cl- accumulation occurred with a time constant of 155 s, corresponding to a rate of 15.4 µM/s. Inhibition of phasic GABAergic activity had no significant effect on steady state [Cl-]i. Inhibition of tonic GABAergic currents induced a significant [Cl-]i increase by 1.6 mM, while activation of tonic extrasynaptic GABAA receptors with THIP significantly reduced [Cl-]i.. Simulations of neuronal [Cl-]i homeostasis supported the observation, that basal levels of synaptic GABAergic activation do not affect [Cl-]i. In summary, these results indicate that active Cl--uptake in immature hippocampal neurons is sufficient to maintain stable [Cl-]i at basal levels of phasic and to some extent also to compensate tonic GABAergic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey N Kolbaev
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 6, 55128, Mainz, Germany.,Research Center of Neurology, Volokolamskoyeshosse, 80, Moscow, Russia, 125367
| | - Namrata Mohapatra
- Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Neuroscience Center, Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Rongqing Chen
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 6, 55128, Mainz, Germany.,Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Aniello Lombardi
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 6, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Jochen F Staiger
- Institute of Neuroanatomy, Universitätsmedizin Göttingen, Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Kreuzbergring 36, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Heiko J Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 6, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Peter Jedlicka
- Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Neuroscience Center, Goethe-University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590, Frankfurt, Germany.,ICAR3R-Interdisciplinary Centre for 3Rs in Animal Research, Faculty of Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University, Rudolf-Buchheim-Str. 6, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Werner Kilb
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center Mainz, Johannes Gutenberg University, Duesbergweg 6, 55128, Mainz, Germany.
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Miziak B, Chrościńska-Krawczyk M, Czuczwar SJ. Neurosteroids and Seizure Activity. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2020; 11:541802. [PMID: 33117274 PMCID: PMC7561372 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2020.541802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Still circa 25% to 30% of patients with epilepsy cannot be efficiently controlled with available antiepileptic drugs so newer pharmacological treatment options have been continuously searched for. In this context, a group of endogenous or exogenous neurosteroids allosterically positively modulating GABA-A receptors may offer a promising approach. Among endogenous neurosteroids synthesized in the brain, allopregnanolone or allotetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone have been documented to exert anticonvulsant activity in a number of experimental models of seizures-pentylenetetrazol-, bicuculline- pilocarpine-, or 6 Hz-induced convulsions in rodents. Neurosteroids can also inhibit fully kindled seizures and some of them have been reported to counteract maximal electroshock-induced convulsions. An exogenous neurosteroid, alphaxalone, significantly elevated the threshold for maximal electroconvulsions in mice but it did not potentiate the anticonvulsive action of a number of conventional antiepileptic drugs against maximal electroshock-induced seizures. Androsterone not only elevated the threshold but significantly enhanced the protective action of carbamazepine, gabapentin and phenobarbital against maximal electroshock in mice, as well. Ganaxolone (a 3beta-methylated analog of allopregnanolone) needs special consideration for two reasons. First, it performed better than conventional antiepileptic drugs, diazepam or valproate, in suppressing convulsive and lethal effects of pentylenetetrazol in pentylenetetrazol-kindled mice. Second, ganaxolone has been evaluated in the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial in patients with intractable partial seizures, taking maximally 3 antiepileptic drugs. The initial results indicate that add-on therapy with ganaxolone resulted in reduced seizure frequency with adverse effect being mainly mild to moderate. Possibly, ganaxolone may be also considered against catamenial seizures. Some positive effects of ganaxolone as an adjuvant were also observed in children with refractory seizures and its use may also prove efficient for the management of neonatal seizures associated with hypoxic injury. Neurosteroids positively modulating GABA-A receptor complex exert anticonvulsive activity in many experimental models of seizures. Their interactions with antiepileptic drugs seem ambiguous in mice. Initial clinical data indicate that ganaxolone may provide a better seizure control in patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Miziak
- Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
| | | | - Stanisław J. Czuczwar
- Department of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, Poland
- *Correspondence: Stanisław J. Czuczwar,
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Sharopov S, Winkler P, Uehara R, Lombardi A, Halbhuber L, Okabe A, Luhmann HJ, Kilb W. Allopregnanolone augments epileptiform activity of an in-vitro mouse hippocampal preparation in the first postnatal week. Epilepsy Res 2019; 157:106196. [PMID: 31499340 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2019.106196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In the immature brain the neurotransmitter γ-amino butyric acid (GABA) mediates a membrane depolarization and can contribute to both, inhibition and excitation. Therefore the consequences of a positive modulation of GABA(A) receptors by neurosteroids on epileptiform activity are hard to predict. In order to analyze whether neurosteroids attenuate or exaggerate epileptiform activity in the immature brain, we investigated the effect of the neurosteroid allopregnanolone on epileptiform activity in an in-toto hippocampus preparation of early postnatal mice (postnatal days 4-7) using field potential recordings. These in-vitro experiments revealed that 0.5 μmol/L allopregnanolone had no effect on ictal-like epileptiform activity, but increased the occurrence of interictal epileptiform events. The allopregnanolone-induced enhancement of interictal epileptiform activity could be blocked by a selective inhibition of synaptic GABAA receptors. In contrast, allopregnanolone had no effect on interictal epileptiform activity upon enhanced extrasynaptic GABAergic activity. Patch-clamp experiments demonstrated that allopregnanolone prolonged the decay of GABAergic postsynaptic currents, but had no effect on tonic GABAergic currents. We conclude from these results that allopregnanolone can enhance excitability in the immature hippocampus viaprolonged synaptic GABAergic currents. This potential effect of neurosteroids on brain excitability should be considered if they are applied as anticonvulsants to premature or early postnatal babies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salim Sharopov
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120, Mainz, Germany
| | - Paula Winkler
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120, Mainz, Germany
| | - Rie Uehara
- Department of Molecular Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0215, Japan
| | - Aniello Lombardi
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120, Mainz, Germany
| | - Lisa Halbhuber
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120, Mainz, Germany
| | - Akihito Okabe
- Department of Molecular Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0215, Japan; Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Health and Welfare, Seinan Jo Gakuin University, 1-3-5 Ibori, Kokurakita-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, 803-0835, Japan
| | - Heiko J Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120, Mainz, Germany
| | - Werner Kilb
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120, Mainz, Germany.
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8
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Winkler P, Luhmann HJ, Kilb W. Taurine potentiates the anticonvulsive effect of the GABA A agonist muscimol and pentobarbital in the immature mouse hippocampus. Epilepsia 2019; 60:464-474. [PMID: 30682212 DOI: 10.1111/epi.14651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2018] [Revised: 12/24/2018] [Accepted: 12/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The high incidence of epileptic seizures in neonates and their frequent refractoriness to pharmacologic therapies require identification of new therapeutical options. Therefore, we investigated whether the modulatory effect of taurine on γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptors can enhance the anticonvulsive potential of the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol and of the barbiturate pentobarbital. METHODS We performed field potential recordings in in toto hippocampus preparations of immature (postnatal days 4-7) C57Bl/6 mouse pups. Spontaneous epileptiform activity was induced by the continuous presence of the potassium channel blocker 4-aminopyridine and the glycinergic antagonist strychnine in Mg2+ -free solutions. RESULTS Bath application of 0.1 μmol/L muscimol increases the occurrence of recurrent epileptiform discharges, whereas they are significantly attenuated in a dose-dependent manner by muscimol in concentrations between 0.5 and 5 μmol/L. Taurine at concentrations between 0.1 and 0.5 mmol/L induces a proconvulsive effect, but upon coapplication, it significantly augments the anticonvulsive effect of moderate muscimol doses (0.5-1 μmol/L). In addition, the anticonvulsive effect of 100 and 200 μmol/L pentobarbital is increased significantly in the presence of 0.5 μmol/L taurine. SIGNIFICANCE These observations demonstrate that taurine can indeed enhance the anticonvulsive effects of muscimol and pentobarbital, suggesting that taurine may act as a positive modulator on GABAA receptors. Thus, interfering with the modulatory taurine binding site of GABAA receptors or the interstitial taurine concentration may provide new therapeutical options for anticonvulsive therapies in neonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Winkler
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Heiko J Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Werner Kilb
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
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9
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Uchida T, Lossin C, Ihara Y, Deshimaru M, Yanagawa Y, Koyama S, Hirose S. Abnormal γ-aminobutyric acid neurotransmission in aKcnq2model of early onset epilepsy. Epilepsia 2017; 58:1430-1439. [DOI: 10.1111/epi.13807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Taku Uchida
- Central Research Institute for the Pathomechanisms of Epilepsy; Fukuoka University; Fukuoka Japan
- Department of Neuroscience; Section of Integrative Physiology; Faculty of Medicine; University of Miyazaki; Miyazaki Japan
| | - Christoph Lossin
- Department of Neurology; University of California, Davis; Sacramento California U.S.A
| | - Yukiko Ihara
- Department of Pediatrics; Fukuoka University School of Medicine; Fukuoka Japan
| | - Masanobu Deshimaru
- Department of Chemistry; Faculty of Science; Fukuoka University; Fukuoka Japan
| | - Yuchio Yanagawa
- Department of Genetic and Behavioral Neuroscience; Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine; Maebashi Japan
| | - Susumu Koyama
- Department of Advanced Pharmacology; Daiichi University of Pharmacy; Fukuoka Japan
| | - Shinichi Hirose
- Central Research Institute for the Pathomechanisms of Epilepsy; Fukuoka University; Fukuoka Japan
- Department of Pediatrics; Fukuoka University School of Medicine; Fukuoka Japan
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10
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Abstract
γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the cerebral cortex. GABAergic inhibition enables synchronization of activity in cortical networks, and contributes to generation of variety of brain activity patterns. In relation to epilepsy, GABAergic inhibition has been traditionally viewed as the main mechanism counterbalancing glutamatergic excitation and preventing hypersynchronous neuronal discharges. Indeed, deficits in GABAergic functions most commonly result in a hyperexcitable epileptic state, and many of the currently used antiepileptic drugs act through enhancement of GABAergic functions. However, a number of observations show that some epileptiform activity patterns involve synchronization by GABAergic mechanisms. These include two main categories that will be reviewed here: (1) synchronization of epileptiform oscillations based on GABAergic inhibition, and (2) epileptiform events driven by depolarizing and excitatory GABA. The conclusion is reached that GABAergic control of spike timing, either through inhibition or excitation under certain conditions, may work as a powerful synchronizing mechanism during epilepsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roustem Khazipov
- INMED-INSERM U901, 13273 Marseille Cedex 09, France Aix-Marseille University, 13273 Marseille Cedex 09, France Laboratory of Neurobiology, Kazan Federal University, 420008 Kazan, Russia
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11
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Romo-Parra H, Blaesse P, Sosulina L, Pape HC. Neurosteroids increase tonic GABAergic inhibition in the lateral section of the central amygdala in mice. J Neurophysiol 2015; 113:3421-31. [PMID: 25787948 DOI: 10.1152/jn.00045.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurosteroids are formed de novo in the brain and can modulate both inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission. Recent evidence suggests that the anxiolytic effects of neurosteroids are mediated by the amygdala, a key structure for emotional and cognitive behaviors. Tonic inhibitory signaling via extrasynaptic type A γ-aminobutyric acid receptors (GABA(A)Rs) is known to be crucially involved in regulating network activity in various brain regions including subdivisions of the amygdala. Here we provide evidence for the existence of tonic GABAergic inhibition generated by the activation of δ-subunit-containing GABA(A)Rs in neurons of the lateral section of the mouse central amygdala (CeAl). Furthermore, we show that neurosteroids play an important role in the modulation of tonic GABAergic inhibition in the CeAl. Taken together, these findings provide new mechanistic insights into the effects of pharmacologically relevant neurosteroids in the amygdala and might be extrapolated to the regulation of anxiety.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Romo-Parra
- Institute of Physiology I, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - P Blaesse
- Institute of Physiology I, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - L Sosulina
- Institute of Physiology I, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - H-C Pape
- Institute of Physiology I, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Münster, Germany
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12
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Khazipov R, Valeeva G, Khalilov I. Depolarizing GABA and developmental epilepsies. CNS Neurosci Ther 2014; 21:83-91. [PMID: 25438879 DOI: 10.1111/cns.12353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2014] [Revised: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 10/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Early in development, GABA, which is the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in adult brain, depolarizes immature neurons and exerts dual--excitatory and shunting/inhibitory--effects in the developing neuronal networks. The present review discusses some general questions, including the properties of excitation at depolarizing GABAergic synapse and shunting inhibition by depolarizing GABA; technical issues in exploration of depolarizing GABA using various techniques and preparations, including the developmental aspects of traumatic injury and what is known (or rather unknown) on the actions of GABA in vivo; complex roles of depolarizing GABA in developmental epilepsies, including a contribution of depolarizing GABA to enhanced excitability in the immature networks, caused by repetitive seizures accumulation of intracellular chloride concentration that increases excitatory GABA power and its synchronizing proconvulsive effects, and correction of chloride homeostasis as a potential strategy to treat neonatal seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roustem Khazipov
- INMED-INSERM U901, Marseille, France; Aix-Marseille University, Marseille, France; Laboratory of Neurobiology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
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13
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Chen R, Okabe A, Sun H, Sharopov S, Hanganu-Opatz IL, Kolbaev SN, Fukuda A, Luhmann HJ, Kilb W. Activation of glycine receptors modulates spontaneous epileptiform activity in the immature rat hippocampus. J Physiol 2014; 592:2153-68. [PMID: 24665103 DOI: 10.1113/jphysiol.2014.271700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
While the expression of glycine receptors in the immature hippocampus has been shown, no information about the role of glycine receptors in controlling the excitability in the immature CNS is available. Therefore, we examined the effect of glycinergic agonists and antagonists in the CA3 region of an intact corticohippocampal preparation of the immature (postnatal days 4-7) rat using field potential recordings. Bath application of 100 μM taurine or 10 μM glycine enhanced the occurrence of recurrent epileptiform activity induced by 20 μM 4-aminopyridine in low Mg(2+) solution. This proconvulsive effect was prevented by 3 μM strychnine or after incubation with the loop diuretic bumetanide (10 μM), suggesting that it required glycine receptors and an active NKCC1-dependent Cl(-) accumulation. Application of higher doses of taurine (≥ 1 mM) or glycine (100 μM) attenuated recurrent epileptiform discharges. The anticonvulsive effect of taurine was also observed in the presence of the GABAA receptor antagonist gabazine and was attenuated by strychnine, suggesting that it was partially mediated by glycine receptors. Bath application of the glycinergic antagonist strychnine (0.3 μM) induced epileptiform discharges. We conclude from these results that in the immature hippocampus, activation of glycine receptors can mediate both pro- and anticonvulsive effects, but that a persistent activation of glycine receptors is required to suppress epileptiform activity. In summary, our study elucidated the important role of glycine receptors in the control of neuronal excitability in the immature hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongqing Chen
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120, Mainz, Germany
| | - Akihito Okabe
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120, Mainz, Germany Department of Molecular Anatomy, School of Medicine, University of the Ryukyus, 207 Uehara, Nishihara, Okinawa, 903-0215, Japan
| | - Haiyan Sun
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120, Mainz, Germany
| | - Salim Sharopov
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120, Mainz, Germany
| | - Ileana L Hanganu-Opatz
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120, Mainz, Germany University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, Developmental Neurophysiology, Falkenried 94, D-20251, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sergei N Kolbaev
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120, Mainz, Germany
| | - Atsuo Fukuda
- Department of Neurophysiology, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, 431-3192, Japan
| | - Heiko J Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120, Mainz, Germany
| | - Werner Kilb
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120, Mainz, Germany
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14
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Sava BA, Chen R, Sun H, Luhmann HJ, Kilb W. Taurine activates GABAergic networks in the neocortex of immature mice. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:26. [PMID: 24550782 PMCID: PMC3912439 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2013] [Accepted: 01/17/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Although it has been suggested that taurine is the main endogenous neurotransmitter acting on glycine receptors, the implications of glycine receptor-mediated taurine actions on immature neocortical networks have not been addressed yet. To investigate the influence of taurine on the excitability of neuronal networks in the immature neocortex, we performed whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from visually identified pyramidal neurons and interneurons in coronal slices from C57Bl/6 and GAD67-green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic mice (postnatal days 2–4). In 46% of the pyramidal neurons bath-application of taurine at concentrations ≥ 300 μM significantly enhanced the frequency of postsynaptic currents (PSCs) by 744.3 ± 93.8% (n = 120 cells). This taurine-induced increase of PSC frequency was abolished by 0.2 μM tetrodotoxin (TTX), 1 μM strychnine or 3 μM gabazine, but was unaffected by the glutamatergic antagonists 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX) and (±) R(-)-3-(2-carboxypiperazine-4-yl)-propyl-1-phosphonic acid (CPP), suggesting that taurine specifically activates GABAergic network activity projecting to pyramidal neurons. Cell-attached recordings revealed that taurine enhanced the frequency of action potentials (APs) in pyramidal neurons, indicating an excitatory action of the GABAergic PSCs. In order to identify the presynaptic targets of taurine we demonstrate that bath application of taurine induced in GAD67-GFP labeled interneurons an inward current that is mainly mediated by glycine receptors and can generate APs in these cells. We conclude from these results that taurine can enhance network excitability in the immature neocortex by selectively activating GABAergic interneurons via interactions with glycine receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bogdan A Sava
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center Mainz Mainz, Germany
| | - Rongqing Chen
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center Mainz Mainz, Germany
| | - Haiyan Sun
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center Mainz Mainz, Germany
| | - Heiko J Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center Mainz Mainz, Germany
| | - Werner Kilb
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center Mainz Mainz, Germany
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15
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Sharopov S, Chen R, Sun H, Kolbaev SN, Kirischuk S, Luhmann HJ, Kilb W. Inhibition of different GABA transporter systems is required to attenuate epileptiform activity in the CA3 region of the immature rat hippocampus. Epilepsy Res 2013; 108:182-9. [PMID: 24359690 DOI: 10.1016/j.eplepsyres.2013.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2013] [Revised: 09/30/2013] [Accepted: 11/21/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
GABA transporters (GATs) are an essential element of the GABAergic system, which regulate excitability in the central nervous system and are thus used as targets for anticonvulsive therapy. However, in the immature nervous system the functions of the GABAergic system and the expression profile of GATs are distinct from the adult situation, obscuring to predict how different GAT isoforms influence epileptiform activity. Therefore we analyzed the effects of subtype specific GAT inhibitors on repetitive epileptiform discharges using field potential and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in the CA3 region of hippocampal slices of immature (postnatal days 4-7) rats. These experiments revealed that inhibition of GAT-1 with either tiagabine (30 μM) or NO-711 (10 μM) exhibited only a minor anticonvulsive effect on repetitive epileptiform discharges. Blockade of GAT-2/3 with SNAP-5114 (40 μM) had no anticonvulsive effect, but significantly prolonged the decay of spontaneous GABAergic postsynaptic currents. In contrast, the combined application of 10 μM NO-711 and 40 μM SNAP-5114 blocked epileptiform activity in 33% of all slices and reduced the occurrence of epileptiform discharges by 54% in the remaining slices. In addition, the input resistance decreased by 10.5 ± 1.0% under this condition. These results indicate that both GAT-1 and GAT-2/3 are functional in the immature hippocampus and that only the combined inhibition of GAT 1-3 is sufficient to promote a considerable anticonvulsive effect. We conclude from these results that both GAT-1 and GAT-2/3 act synergistically to regulate the excitability in the immature hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salim Sharopov
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120 Mainz, Germany
| | - Rongqing Chen
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120 Mainz, Germany
| | - Haiyan Sun
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120 Mainz, Germany
| | - Sergei N Kolbaev
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120 Mainz, Germany
| | - Sergei Kirischuk
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120 Mainz, Germany
| | - Heiko J Luhmann
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120 Mainz, Germany
| | - Werner Kilb
- Institute of Physiology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Duesbergweg 6, D-55120 Mainz, Germany.
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Kilb W, Kirischuk S, Luhmann HJ. Role of tonic GABAergic currents during pre- and early postnatal rodent development. Front Neural Circuits 2013; 7:139. [PMID: 24027498 PMCID: PMC3760143 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2013.00139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2013] [Accepted: 08/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last three decades it became evident that the GABAergic system plays an essential role for the development of the central nervous system, by influencing the proliferation of neuronal precursors, neuronal migration and differentiation, as well as by controlling early activity patterns and thus formation of neuronal networks. GABA controls neuronal development via depolarizing membrane responses upon activation of ionotropic GABA receptors. However, many of these effects occur before the onset of synaptic GABAergic activity and thus require the presence of extrasynaptic tonic currents in neuronal precursors and immature neurons. This review summarizes our current knowledge about the role of tonic GABAergic currents during early brain development. In this review we compare the temporal sequence of the expression and functional relevance of different GABA receptor subunits, GABA synthesizing enzymes and GABA transporters. We also refer to other possible endogenous agonists of GABAA receptors. In addition, we describe functional consequences mediated by the GABAergic system during early developmental periods and discuss current models about the origin of extrasynaptic GABA and/or other endogenous GABAergic agonists during early developmental states. Finally, we present evidence that tonic GABAergic activity is also critically involved in the generation of physiological as well as pathophysiological activity patterns before and after the establishment of functional GABAergic synaptic connections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Werner Kilb
- Institute of Physiology and Pathophysiology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Germany
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17
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Maternal treatment with picrotoxin in late pregnancy improved female sexual behavior but did not alter male sexual behavior of offspring. Behav Pharmacol 2013; 24:282-90. [DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0b013e3283633662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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