GABA(B) receptor activation modulates GABA(A) receptor-mediated inhibition in chicken nucleus magnocellularis neurons

Experience-Dependent Plasticity in Nucleus Laminaris of the Barn Owl

Barn owls experience increasing interaural time differences (ITDs) during development, because their head width more than doubles in the month after hatching. We therefore hypothesized that their ITD detection circuit might be modified by experience. To test this, we raised owls with unilateral ear inserts that delayed and attenuated the acoustic signal, then measured the ITD representation in the brainstem nucleus laminaris (NL) when they were adult. The ITD circuit is composed of delay line inputs to coincidence detectors, and we predicted that plastic changes would lead to shorter delays in the axons from the manipulated ear, and complementary shifts in ITD representation on the two sides. In owls that received ear inserts starting around P14, the maps of ITD shifted in the predicted direction, but only on the ipsilateral side, and only in those tonotopic regions that had not experienced auditory stimulation prior to insertion. The contralateral map did not change. Experience-dependent plasticity of the ITD circuit occurs in NL, and our data suggest that ipsilateral and contralateral delays are independently regulated. Thus, altered auditory input during development leads to long-lasting changes in the representation of ITD.

Ginsenoside Rb1 regulates prefrontal cortical GABAergic transmission in MPTP-treated mice

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease, featured by motor deficits and non-motor symptoms such as cognitive impairment, and malfunction of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) mediated inhibitory transmission plays an important role in PD pathogenesis. The ginsenoside Rb1 molecule, a major constituent of the extract from the Ginseng root, has been demonstrated to ameliorate motor deficits and prevent dopaminergic neuron death in PD. However, whether Rb1 can regulate GABAergic transmission in PD-associated deficits and its underlying mechanisms are still unclear. In this study, we explored the effects of Rb1 on the GABAergic synaptic transmission in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of PD. We demonstrated that Rb1 can bind with GABA_ARα1 and increase its expression in the SH-SY5Y cells and in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of MPTP model in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, Rb1 can promote prefrontal cortical GABA level and GABAergic transmission in MPTP-treated mice. We also revealed that Rb1 may suppress presynaptic GABA_BR1 to enhance GABA release and GABA_A receptor-mediated inhibitory transmission. In addition, Rb1 attenuated MPTP-induced dysfunctional gait dynamic and cognitive impairment, and this neuroprotective mechanism possibly involved regulating prefrontal cortical GABAergic transmission. Thus, Rb1 may serve as a potential drug candidate for the treatment of PD.

Anatomy and Physiology of Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors in Mammalian and Avian Auditory System

Glutamate, as the major excitatory neurotransmitter used in the vertebrate brain, activates ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs and mGluRs), which mediate fast and slow neuronal actions, respectively. mGluRs play important modulatory roles in many brain areas, forming potential targets for drugs developed to treat brain disorders. Here, we review studies on mGluRs in the mammalian and avian auditory system. Although anatomical expression of mGluRs in the cochlear nucleus has been well characterized, data for other auditory nuclei await more systematic investigations especially at the electron microscopy level. The physiology of mGluRs has been extensively studied using in vitro brain slice preparations, with a focus on the auditory circuitry in the brainstem. These in vitro physiological studies have demonstrated that mGluRs participate in synaptic transmission, regulate ionic homeostasis, induce synaptic plasticity, and maintain the balance between Excitation and Inhibition (E/I) in a variety of auditory structures. However, the modulatory roles of mGluRs in auditory processing remain largely unclear at the system and behavioral levels, and the functions of mGluRs in auditory disorders remain entirely unknown.

Metabotropic glutamate and GABA receptors modulate cellular excitability and glutamatergic transmission in chicken cochlear nucleus angularis neurons

Neurons in the avian cochlear nucleus angularis (NA) receive glutamatergic input from the auditory nerve, and GABAergic input from the superior olivary nucleus. Physiologically heterogeneous, NA neurons perform multiple functions including encoding sound intensity information. Using in vitro whole-cell patch recordings from acute brain slices and immunohistochemistry staining, we investigated neuromodulation mediated by metabotropic glutamate and GABA receptors (mGluRs and GABA_BRs) in NA neurons. Based on their intrinsic firing patterns in response to somatic current injections, NA neurons were classified into onset, damped, and tonic cells. Pharmacological activation of group II mGluRs, group III mGluRs, and GABA_BRs, by their respective agonists, suppressed the cellular excitability of non-onset firing NA neurons. Each of these agonists inhibited the glutamatergic transmission in NA neurons, in a cell type-independent manner. The frequency but not the amplitude of spontaneous release of glutamate was reduced by each of these agonists, suggesting that the modulation of the glutamatergic transmission was via presynaptic actions. Interestingly, activation of group I mGluRs increased cellular excitability and suppressed glutamatergic transmission in non-onset neurons. These results elaborate that auditory processing in NA neurons is subject to neuromodulation mediated by metabotropic receptors activated by native neurotransmitters released at NA.

Metabotropic glutamate receptors in auditory processing

As the major excitatory neurotransmitter used in the vertebrate brain, glutamate activates ionotropic and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), which mediate fast and slow neuronal actions, respectively. Important modulatory roles of mGluRs have been shown in many brain areas, and drugs targeting mGluRs have been developed for the treatment of brain disorders. Here, I review studies on mGluRs in the auditory system. Anatomical expression of mGluRs in the cochlear nucleus has been well characterized, while data for other auditory nuclei await more systematic investigations at both the light and electron microscopy levels. The physiology of mGluRs has been extensively studied using in vitro brain slice preparations, with a focus on the lower auditory brainstem in both mammals and birds. These in vitro physiological studies have revealed that mGluRs participate in neurotransmission, regulate ionic homeostasis, induce synaptic plasticity, and maintain the balance between excitation and inhibition in a variety of auditory structures. However, very few in vivo physiological studies on mGluRs in auditory processing have been undertaken at the systems level. Many questions regarding the essential roles of mGluRs in auditory processing still remain unanswered and more rigorous basic research is warranted.

Coding space-time stimulus dynamics in auditory brain maps

Sensory maps are often distorted representations of the environment, where ethologically-important ranges are magnified. The implication of a biased representation extends beyond increased acuity for having more neurons dedicated to a certain range. Because neurons are functionally interconnected, non-uniform representations influence the processing of high-order features that rely on comparison across areas of the map. Among these features are time-dependent changes of the auditory scene generated by moving objects. How sensory representation affects high order processing can be approached in the map of auditory space of the owl's midbrain, where locations in the front are over-represented. In this map, neurons are selective not only to location but also to location over time. The tuning to space over time leads to direction selectivity, which is also topographically organized. Across the population, neurons tuned to peripheral space are more selective to sounds moving into the front. The distribution of direction selectivity can be explained by spatial and temporal integration on the non-uniform map of space. Thus, the representation of space can induce biased computation of a second-order stimulus feature. This phenomenon is likely observed in other sensory maps and may be relevant for behavior.

Glycinergic transmission modulates GABAergic inhibition in the avian auditory pathway

For all neurons, a proper balance of synaptic excitation and inhibition is crucial to effect computational precision. Achievement of this balance is remarkable when one considers factors that modulate synaptic strength operate on multiple overlapping time scales and affect both pre- and postsynaptic elements. Recent studies have shown that inhibitory transmitters, glycine and GABA, are co-released in auditory nuclei involved in the computation of interaural time disparities (ITDs), a cue used to process sound source location. The co-release expressed at these synapses is heavily activity dependent, and generally occurs when input rates are high. This circuitry, in both birds and mammals, relies on inhibitory input to maintain the temporal precision necessary for ITD encoding. Studies of co-release in other brain regions suggest that GABA and glycine receptors (GlyRs) interact via cross-suppressive modulation of receptor conductance. We performed in vitro whole-cell recordings in several nuclei of the chicken brainstem auditory circuit to assess whether this cross-suppressive phenomenon was evident in the avian brainstem. We evaluated the effect of pressure-puff applied glycine on synaptically evoked inhibitory currents in nucleus magnocellularis (NM) and the superior olivary nucleus (SON). Glycine pre-application reduced the amplitude of inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) evoked during a 100 Hz train stimulus in both nuclei. This apparent glycinergic modulation was blocked in the presence of strychnine. Further experiments showed that this modulation did not depend on postsynaptic biochemical interactions such as phosphatase activity, or direct interactions between GABA and GlyR proteins. Rather, voltage clamp experiments in which we manipulated Cl⁻ flux during agonist application suggest that activation of one receptor will modulate the conductance of the other via local changes in Cl⁻ ion concentration within microdomains of the postsynaptic membrane.

Functional Recovery After Ischemic Stroke Is Associated With Reduced GABAergic Inhibition in the Cerebral Cortex: A GABA PET Study

BACKGROUND

γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) plasticity plays an important role in stroke motor recovery in a mouse model. However, little is known about changes over time in neuronal excitability mediated by GABA receptors in human stroke patients.

OBJECTIVES

To establish the mechanism of neuroplasticity during the recovery phase following ischemic stroke by assessing the changes in cerebral GABA activity using [(18)F]flumazenil ([(18)F]FMZ) positron emission tomography (PET).

METHODS

A total of 10 patients with unilateral ischemic stroke were studied at 1 month (T0) and 3 months (T1) postonset using [(18)F]FMZ PET. Changes in regional GABAergic activity were assessed longitudinally, and values were also compared with those in 15 age-matched controls. Upper-extremity motor function was evaluated using the Fugl-Meyer score (FMS).

RESULTS

During the follow-up period, statistical parametric mapping analysis demonstrated a decrease in GABAA receptor availability throughout the cerebral cortex and cerebellum, especially the contralateral hemisphere. GABAA availability in the bilateral primary motor cortex, contralateral supplemental motor cortex, and globus pallidus at T0 was positively correlated with the FMS score at T1 CONCLUSIONS: This is the first prospective, controlled longitudinal study showing that the change in GABA receptor availability over time is significantly related to motor recovery after stroke in humans. This work supports the rationale for a novel strategy to promote motor recovery after stroke.

Slowly emerging glycinergic transmission enhances inhibition in the sound localization pathway of the avian auditory system

Localization of low-frequency acoustic stimuli is processed in dedicated neural pathways where coincidence-detecting neurons compare the arrival time of sound stimuli at the two ears, or interaural time disparity (ITD). ITDs occur in the submillisecond range, and vertebrates have evolved specialized excitatory and inhibitory circuitry to compute these differences. Glycinergic inhibition is a computationally significant and prominent component of the mammalian ITD pathway. However, evidence for glycinergic transmission is limited in birds, where GABAergic inhibition has been thought to be the dominant or exclusive inhibitory transmitter. Indeed, previous work showed that GABA antagonists completely eliminate inhibition in avian nuclei specialized for processing temporal features of sound, nucleus magnocellularis (NM) and nucleus laminaris (NL). However, more recent work shows that glycine is coexpressed with GABA in synaptic terminals apposed to neurons in both nuclei (Coleman WL, Fischl MJ, Weimann SR, Burger RM. J Neurophysiol 105: 2405-2420, 2011; Kuo SP, Bradley LA, Trussell LO. J Neurosci 29: 9625-9634, 2009). Here we show complementary evidence of functional glycine receptor (GlyR) expression in NM and NL. Additionally, we show that glycinergic input can be evoked under particular stimulus conditions. Stimulation at high but physiologically relevant rates evokes a slowly emerging glycinergic response in NM and NL that builds over the course of the stimulus. Glycinergic response magnitude was stimulus rate dependent, representing 18% and 7% of the total inhibitory current in NM and NL, respectively, at the end of the 50-pulse, 200-Hz stimulus. Finally, we show that the glycinergic component is functionally relevant, as its elimination reduced inhibition of discharges evoked by current injection into NM neurons.

Development of GPCR modulation of GABAergic transmission in chicken nucleus laminaris neurons

Neurons in the nucleus laminaris (NL) of birds act as coincidence detectors and encode interaural time difference to localize the sound source in the azimuth plane. GABAergic transmission in a number of CNS nuclei including the NL is subject to a dual modulation by presynaptic GABA_B receptors (GABA_BRs) and metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs). Here, using in vitro whole-cell patch clamp recordings from acute brain slices of the chick, we characterized the following important but unknown properties pertaining to such a dual modulation: (1) emergence of functional GABA synapses in NL neurons; (2) the temporal onset of neuromodulation mediated by GABA_BRs and mGluRs; and (3) the physiological conditions under which GABA_BRs and mGluRs are activated by endogenous transmitters. We found that (1) GABA_AR-mediated synaptic responses were observed in about half of the neurons at embryonic day 11 (E11); (2) GABA_BR-mediated modulation of the GABAergic transmission was detectable at E11, whereas the modulation by mGluRs did not emerge until E15; and (3) endogenous activity of GABA_BRs was induced by both low- (5 or 10 Hz) and high-frequency (200 Hz) stimulation of the GABAergic pathway, whereas endogenous activity of mGluRs was induced by high- (200 Hz) but not low-frequency (5 or 10 Hz) stimulation of the glutamatergic pathway. Furthermore, the endogenous activity of mGluRs was mediated by group II but not group III members. Therefore, autoreceptor-mediated modulation of GABAergic transmission emerges at the same time when the GABA synapses become functional. Heteroreceptor-mediated modulation appears at a later time and is receptor type dependent in vitro.

Modulation of synaptic input by GABAB receptors improves coincidence detection for computation of sound location

Interaural time disparities (ITDs) are the primary cues for localisation of low-frequency sound stimuli. ITDs are computed by coincidence-detecting neurones in the medial superior olive (MSO) in mammals. Several previous studies suggest that control of synaptic gain is essential for maintaining ITD selectivity as stimulus intensity increases. Using acute brain slices from postnatal day 7 to 24 (P7–P24) Mongolian gerbils, we confirm that activation of GABAB receptors reduces the amplitude of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic currents to the MSO and, moreover, show that the decay kinetics of IPSCs are slowed in mature animals. During repetitive stimuli, activation of GABAB receptors reduced the amount of depression observed, while PSC suppression and the slowed kinetics were maintained. Additionally, we used physiological and modelling approaches to test the potential impact of GABAB activation on ITD encoding in MSO neurones. Current clamp recordings from MSO neurones were made while pharmacologically isolated excitatory inputs were bilaterally stimulated using pulse trains that simulate ITDs in vitro. MSO neurones showed strong selectivity for bilateral delays. Application of both GABAB agonists and antagonists demonstrate that GABAB modulation of synaptic input can sharpen ITD selectivity. We confirmed and extended these results in a computational model that allowed for independent manipulation of each GABAB-dependent effect. Modelling suggests that modulation of both amplitude and kinetics of synaptic inputs by GABAB receptors can improve precision of ITD computation. Our studies suggest that in vivo modulation of synaptic input by GABAB receptors may act to preserve ITD selectivity across various stimulus conditions.

Synaptic activity-induced Ca(2+) signaling in avian cochlear nucleus magnocellularis neurons

Neurons of the avian cochlear nucleus magnocellularis (NM) receive glutamatergic inputs from the spiral ganglion cells via the auditory nerve and feedback GABAergic inputs primarily from the superior olivary nucleus. We investigated regulation of Ca(2+) signaling in NM neurons with ratiometric Ca(2+) imaging in chicken brain slices. Application of exogenous glutamate or GABA increased the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in NM neurons. Interestingly, GABA-induced Ca(2+) responses persisted into neuronal maturation, in both standard and energy substrate enriched artificial cerebrospinal fluid. More importantly, we found that electrical stimulation applied to the glutamatergic and GABAergic afferent fibers innervating the NM was able to elicit transient [Ca(2+)](i) increases in NM neurons, and the amplitude of the Ca(2+) responses increased with increasing frequency and duration of the electrical stimulation. Antagonists for ionotropic glutamate receptors significantly blocked these [Ca(2+)](i) increases, whereas blocking GABA(A) receptors did not affect the Ca(2+) responses, suggesting that synaptically released glutamate but not GABA induced the Ca(2+) signaling in vitro. Furthermore, activation of GABA(A) receptors with exogenous agonists inhibited synaptic activity-induced [Ca(2+)](i) increases in NM neurons, suggesting a role of GABA(A) receptors in the regulation of Ca(2+) homeostasis in the avian cochlear nucleus neurons.

Development of the chloride homeostasis in the auditory brainstem

Inhibitory neurotransmission plays a substantial role in encoding of auditory cues relevant for sound localization in vertebrates. While the anatomical organization of the respective afferent auditory brainstem circuits shows remarkable similarities between mammals and birds, the properties of inhibitory neurotransmission in these neural circuits are strikingly different. In mammals, inhibition is predominantly glycinergic and endowed with fast kinetics. In birds, inhibition is mediated by gamma-Aminobutiric acid (GABA) and too slow to convey temporal information. A further prominent difference lies in the mechanism of inhibition in the respective systems. In auditory brainstem neurons of mammals, [Cl(-)](i) undergoes a developmental shift causing the actions of GABA and glycine to gradually change from depolarization to the 'classic' hyperpolarizing-inhibition before hearing onset. Contrary to this, in the mature avian auditory brainstem Cl(-) homeostasis mechanisms accurately adjust the Cl(-) gradient to enable depolarizing, but still very efficient, shunting inhibition. The present review considers the mechanisms underlying development of the Cl(-) homeostasis in the auditory system of mammals and birds and discusses some open issues that require closer attention in future studies.

The localization and physiological effects of cannabinoid receptor 1 in the brain stem auditory system of the chick

Fast, temporally-precise, and consistent synaptic transmission is required to encode features of acoustic stimuli. Neurons of nucleus magnocellularis (NM) in the auditory brain stem of the chick possess numerous adaptations to optimize the coding of temporal information. One potential problem for the system is the depression of synaptic transmission during a prolonged stimulus. The present study tested the hypothesis that cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1) signaling may limit synaptic depression at the auditory nerve-NM synapse. In situ hybridization was used to confirm that CB1 mRNA is expressed in the cochlear ganglion; immunohistochemistry was used to confirm the presence of CB1 protein in NM. These findings are consistent with the common presynaptic locus of CB1 in the brain. Rate-dependent synaptic depression was then examined in a brain slice preparation before and after administration of WIN 55,212-2 (WIN), a potent CB1 agonist. WIN decreased the amplitude of excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) and also reduced depression across a train of stimuli. The effect was most obvious late in the pulse train and during high rates of stimulation. This CB1-mediated influence could allow for lower, but more consistent activation of NM neurons, which could be of importance for optimizing the coding of prolonged, temporally-locked acoustic stimuli.

Inhibition in the balance: binaurally coupled inhibitory feedback in sound localization circuitry

Interaural time differences (ITDs) are the primary cue animals, including humans, use to localize low-frequency sounds. In vertebrate auditory systems, dedicated ITD processing neural circuitry performs an exacting task, the discrimination of microsecond differences in stimulus arrival time at the two ears by coincidence-detecting neurons. These neurons modulate responses over their entire dynamic range to sounds differing in ITD by mere hundreds of microseconds. The well-understood function of this circuitry in birds has provided a fruitful system to investigate how inhibition contributes to neural computation at the synaptic, cellular, and systems level. Our recent studies in the chicken have made significant progress in bringing together many of these findings to provide a cohesive picture of inhibitory function.

Dynamics of binaural processing in the mammalian sound localization pathway--the role of GABA(B) receptors

The initial binaural processing in the superior olive represents the fastest computation known in the entire mammalian brain. Although the binaural system has to perform under very different and often highly dynamic acoustic conditions, the integration of binaural information in the superior olivary complex (SOC) has not been considered to be adaptive or dynamic itself. Recent evidence, however, shows that the initial processing of interaural level and interaural time differences relies on well-adjusted interactions of both the excitatory and the inhibitory projections, respectively. Under static conditions, these inputs seem to be tightly balanced, but may also require dynamic adjustment for proper function when the acoustic environment changes. GABA(B) receptors are at least one mechanism rendering the system more dynamic than considered so far. A comprehensive description of how binaural processing in the SOC is dynamically regulated by GABA(B) receptors in adults and in early development is important for understanding how spatial auditory processing changes with acoustic context.

Heterogeneous kinetics and pharmacology of synaptic inhibition in the chick auditory brainstem

Identification of shared features between avian and mammalian auditory brainstem circuits has provided much insight into the mechanisms underlying early auditory processing. However, previous studies have highlighted an apparent difference in inhibitory systems; synaptic inhibition is thought to be slow and GABAergic in birds but to have fast kinetics and be predominantly glycinergic in mammals. Using patch-clamp recordings in chick brainstem slices, we found that this distinction is not exclusively true. Consistent with previous work, IPSCs in nucleus magnocellularis (NM) were slow and mediated by GABA(A) receptors. However, IPSCs in nucleus laminaris (NL) and a subset of neurons in nucleus angularis (NA) had rapid time courses twofold to threefold faster than those in NM. Furthermore, we found that IPSCs in NA were mediated by both glycine and GABA(A) receptors, demonstrating for the first time a role for fast glycinergic transmission in the avian auditory brainstem. Although NM, NL, and NA have unique roles in auditory processing, the majority of inhibitory input to each nucleus arises from the same source, ipsilateral superior olivary nucleus (SON). Our results demonstrate remarkable diversity of inhibitory transmission among the avian brainstem nuclei and suggest that differential glycine and GABA(A) receptor activity tailors inhibition to the specific functional roles of NM, NL, and NA despite common SON input. We additionally observed that glycinergic/GABAergic activity in NA was usually depolarizing and could elicit spiking activity in NA neurons. Because NA projects to SON, these excitatory effects may influence the recruitment of inhibitory activity in the brainstem nuclei.

The physiological role of pre- and postsynaptic GABA(B) receptors in membrane excitability and synaptic transmission of neurons in the rat's dorsal cortex of the inferior colliculus

In the inferior colliculus (IC), GABAergic inhibition mediated by GABA(A) receptors has been shown to play a significant role in regulating physiological responses, but little is known about the physiological role of GABA(B) receptors in IC neurons. In the present study, we used whole-cell patch clamp recording in vitro to investigate the effects of activation of GABA(B) receptors on membrane excitability and synaptic transmission of neurons in the rat's dorsal cortex of the inferior colliculus (ICD). Repetitive stimulation of GABAergic inputs to ICD neurons at high frequencies could elicit a slow and long-lasting postsynaptic response, which was reversibly abolished by the GABA(B) receptor antagonist, CGP 35348. The results suggest that postsynaptic GABA(B) receptors can directly mediate inhibitory synaptic transmission in ICD. The role of postsynaptic GABA(B) receptors in regulation of membrane excitability was further investigated by application of the GABA(B) receptor agonist, baclofen. Baclofen hyperpolarized the cell, reduced the membrane input resistance and firing rate, increased the threshold for generating action potentials (APs), and decreased the amplitude of the AP and its associated after-hyperpolarization. The Ca2+-mediated rebound depolarization following hyperpolarization and the depolarization hump at the beginning of membrane depolarization were also suppressed by baclofen. In voltage clamp experiments, baclofen induced inward rectifying K+ current and reduced low- and high-threshold Ca2+ currents, which may account for the suppression of membrane excitability by postsynaptic GABA(B) receptors. Application of baclofen also reduced excitatory synaptic responses mediated by alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors, and inhibitory synaptic responses mediated by GABA(A) receptors. Baclofen increased the ratios of 2nd/1st excitatory and inhibitory postsynaptic currents to paired-pulse stimulation of the synaptic inputs. These results suggest that fast glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic transmission in ICD can be modulated by presynaptic GABA(B) receptors.

Control of a depolarizing GABAergic input in an auditory coincidence detection circuit

Neurons in the chicken nucleus laminaris (NL), the third-order auditory neurons that detect the interaural time differences that enable animals to localize sounds in the horizontal plane, receive glutamatergic excitation from the cochlear nucleus magnocellularis (NM) and GABAergic inhibition from the ipsilateral superior olivary nucleus. Here, we study metabotropic glutamate receptor (mGluR)- and GABAB receptor (GABABR)-mediated modulation of synaptic transmission in NL neurons. Gramicidin-perforated recordings from acute brain stem slice preparations showed that the reversal potential of the GABAergic responses in NL neurons was more depolarized than the spike threshold. Activation of the GABAergic input produced a mix of inhibitory and excitatory actions in NL neurons. The inhibitory action is known to be critical in improving the acuity of temporal processing of sounds. The excitatory action, however, would reduce the phase locking fidelity of NL neurons in response to their excitatory inputs from the NM. We show that activation of presynaptic mGluRs or GABABRs by either exogenous agonists or synaptically released neurotransmitters reduced the GABAergic responses, preventing the excitatory action of GABA while leaving the inhibitory action intact. Unlike most CNS synapses, the glutamatergic transmission in the NL was not modulated by either mGluRs or GABABRs, indicating that fixed (nonmodulatory) excitatory inputs to the NL may be optimal for coincidence detection. This study contributes to our understanding of how selective neuromodulation is achieved to suit a particular function of neuronal circuits in the brain.

A developmental switch to GABAergic inhibition dependent on increases in Kv1-type K+ currents

Mature nucleus magnocellularis (NM) neurons, the avian homolog of bushy cells of the mammalian anteroventral cochlear nucleus, maintain high [Cl-]i and depolarize in response to GABA. Depolarizing GABAergic postsynaptic potentials (GPSPs) activate both the synaptic conductance and large outward currents, which, when coupled together, inhibit spikes via shunting and spike threshold accommodation. We studied the maturation of the synaptic and voltage-dependent components of inhibition in embryonic NM neurons using whole-cell and gramicidin-perforated patch-clamp techniques to measure Cl- reversal potential, GABAergic synaptic responses, and voltage-dependent outward currents. We found that GABA enhanced excitability in immature NM neurons, undergoing a switch to inhibitory between embryonic day 14 (E14) and E18. Low-voltage-activated Kv1-type (dendrotoxin-I sensitive) K+ currents increased in amplitude between E14 and E18, whereas Cl- reversal potential and synaptic conductances remained relatively stable during this period. GABA was rendered inhibitory because of this increase in low-voltage activated outward currents. GPSPs summed with other inputs to increase spike probability at E14. GPSPs shunted spikes at E18, but blocking Kv1 channels transformed this inhibition to excitation, similar to E14 neurons. Subthreshold depolarizing current steps, designed to activate outward currents similar to depolarizing GPSPs, enhanced excitability at E14 but inhibited spiking in E18 neurons. Blocking Kv1 channels reversed this effect, rendering current steps excitatory. We present the novel finding that the developmental transition of GABAergic processing from increasing neuronal excitability to inhibiting spiking can depend on changes in the expression of voltage-gated channels rather than on a change in Cl- reversal potential.

Endogenous mGluR activity suppresses GABAergic transmission in avian cochlear nucleus magnocellularis neurons

GABAergic transmission in the avian cochlear nucleus magnocellularis (NM) of the chick is subject to modulation by gamma-aminobutyric acid type B (GABA(B)) autoreceptors. Here, I investigated modulation of GABAergic transmission in NM by metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) with whole cell recordings in brain slice preparations. I found that tACPD, a nonspecific mGluR agonist, exerted dose-dependent suppression on evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (eIPSCs) in NM neurons. At concentrations of 100 or 200 microM, tACPD increased the failure rate of GABAergic transmission. Agonists for group I (3,5-DHPG, 200 microM), group II (DCG-IV, 2 microM), and group III (L-AP4, 10 microM) mGluRs produced a significant reduction in the amplitude of eIPSCs and a significant increase in failure rate, indicating the involvement of multiple mGluRs in this modulation. The frequency, but not the amplitude, of miniature IPSCs (mIPSCs) was decreased significantly by 3,5-DHPG or DCG-IV. Neither frequency nor amplitude of mIPSCs was affected by L-AP4. mGluR antagonists LY341495 (20 microM) plus CPPG (10 microM) significantly increased the amplitude of eIPSCs, indicating that endogenous mGluR activity suppresses GABA release to NM neurons. Furthermore, blockage of mGluRs increased GABA-evoked discharges recorded under physiological Cl(-) concentrations, whereas tACPD (100 microM) eliminated them. The results indicate that mGluRs play important roles in achieving balanced excitation and inhibition in NM and preserving fidelity of temporal information encoded by NM neurons.

Expression of GABA(B) receptor in the avian auditory brainstem: ontogeny, afferent deprivation, and ultrastructure

Nucleus magnocellularis (NM), nucleus angularis (NA), and nucleus laminaris (NL), second- and third-order auditory neurons in the avian brainstem, receive GABAergic input primarily from the superior olivary nucleus (SON). Previous studies have demonstrated that both GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptors (GABA(B)Rs) influence physiological properties of NM neurons. We characterized the distribution of GABA(B)R expression in these nuclei during development and after deafferentation of the excitatory auditory nerve (nVIII) inputs. We used a polyclonal antibody raised against rat GABA(B)Rs in the auditory brainstem during developmental periods that are thought to precede and include synaptogenesis of GABAergic inputs. As early as embryonic day (E)14, dense labeling is observed in NA, NM, NL, and SON. At earlier ages immunoreactivity is present in somas as diffuse staining with few puncta. By E21, when the structure and function of the auditory nuclei are known to be mature, GABA(B) immunoreactivity is characterized by dense punctate labeling in NM, NL, and a subset of NA neurons, but label is sparse in the SON. Removal of the cochlea and nVIII neurons in posthatch chicks resulted in only a small decrease in immunoreactivity after survival times of 14 or 28 days, suggesting that a major proportion of GABA(B)Rs may be expressed postsynaptically or on GABAergic terminals. We confirmed this interpretation with immunogold TEM, where expression at postsynaptic membrane sites is clearly observed. The characterization of GABA(B)R distribution enriches our understanding of the full complement of inhibitory influences on central auditory processing in this well-studied neuronal circuit.

Effects of inhibitory feedback in a network model of avian brain stem

The avian auditory brain stem consists of a network of specialized nuclei, including nucleus laminaris (NL) and superior olivary nucleus (SON). NL cells show sensitivity to interaural time difference (ITD), a critical cue that underlies spatial hearing. SON cells provide inhibitory feedback to the rest of the network. Empirical data suggest that feedback inhibition from SON could increase the ITD sensitivity of NL across sound level. Using a bilateral network model, we assess the effects of SON feedback inhibition. Individual cells are specified as modified leaky-integrate-and-fire neurons with time constants and thresholds that vary with inhibitory input. Acoustic sound level is reflected in the discharge rates of the model auditory-nerve fibers, which innervate the network. Simulations show that with SON inhibitory feedback, ITD sensitivity is maintained in model NL cells over a threefold range in auditory-nerve discharge rate. In contrast, without SON feedback inhibition, ITD sensitivity is significantly reduced as input rates are increased. Feedback inhibition is most beneficial in maintaining ITD sensitivity at high-input rates (simulating high sound levels). With SON inhibition, ITD sensitivity is maintained for both interaurally balanced inputs (simulating an on-center sound source) and interaurally imbalanced inputs (simulating a lateralized source). Further, the empirically observed temporal build-up of SON inhibition and the presence of reciprocal inhibitory connections between the ipsi- and contralateral SON both improve ITD sensitivity. In sum, our network model shows that inhibitory feedback can substantially increase the sensitivity and dynamic range of ITD coding in the avian auditory brain stem.