GABA(A) receptor-mediated presynaptic inhibition on glutamatergic transmission.

We investigated the functional roles of presynaptic GABA(A) receptors on excitatory nerve terminals in contributing to spontaneous and action potential-evoked glutamatergic transmission to rat hippocampal CA3 pyramidal neurons. Single CA3 neurons were mechanically isolated with adherent nerve terminals, namely the 'synaptic bouton preparation', and spontaneous glutamatergic excitatory synaptic potentials (sEPSCs) and EPSCs evoked by focal electrical stimuli of a single presynaptic glutamatergic boutons (eEPSCs) were recorded using conventional whole-cell patch recordings. Selective activation of presynaptic GABA(A) receptors on these excitatory nerve terminals by muscimol, markedly facilitated sEPSCs frequency but inhibited eEPSC amplitude. The facilitation of sEPSC frequency was completely occluded by GABA(A) receptor-Cl⁻ channel blockers bicuculline or penicillin (PN). PN itself concentration-dependently inhibited the GABA(A) receptor response induced by bath application of muscimol, but had no effect on the glutamate receptor response. In addition, pretreatment with a blocker of the Na(+), K(+), 2Cl⁻ co-transporter type 1 (NKCC-1), bumetanide, prevented the muscimol-induced inhibition of eEPSCs. The results indicate that activation of presynaptic GABA(A) receptors directly depolarizes glutamatergic excitatory nerve terminals and thereby differentially modulates sEPSCs and eEPSCs.

Yamamoto S ，Yoshimura M ，Shin MC ，Wakita M ，Nonaka K ，Akaike N ... -  《-》

Synergic effect of diazepam and muscimol via presynaptic GABA(A) receptors on glutamatergic evoked EPSCs.

We investigated the functional roles of diazepam (DZP) at presynaptic GABA(A) receptors on glutamatergic nerve terminals in contributing to glutamatergic transmission evoked by single and/or paired-pulse focal electrical stimulation. In mechanically dissociated rat hippocampal CA3 neurons with adherent glutamatergic nerve terminals (boutons), namely 'synaptic bouton' preparation, action potential-evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (eEPSCs) were recorded using conventional whole-cell patch configuration under voltage-clamp condition. Selective activation of presynaptic GABA(A) receptors by muscimol (3-30μM) induced presynaptic inhibition: i.e. the decrease of amplitude and increase of failure rate (Rf) and paired-pulse ratio (PPR) of eEPSCs which are sensitive to bicuculline. DZP (10-100μM) also induced such presynaptic inhibition, but the bicuculline-insensitive effects were caused by inhibition of both voltage-dependent Na(+) and Ca(2+) channels. Muscimol (0.01-0.3μM) or DZP (0.1-3μM) itself did not induce any currents at the low concentration used. However, simultaneous application of muscimol and DZP at low concentrations induced a significant bicuculline-sensitive presynaptic inhibition. Marked desensitization of presynaptic inhibition was also caused by muscimol at higher concentrations than 10μM. The results suggest that in vivo conditions, activation of presynaptic GABA(A) receptors could be readily available with a tiny amount of DZP.

Shin MC ，Wakita M ，Xie DJ ，Iwata S ，Akaike N ... -  《-》

Presynaptic GABAA receptors facilitate spontaneous glutamate release from presynaptic terminals on mechanically dissociated rat CA3 pyramidal neurons.

Jang IS ，Nakamura M ，Ito Y ，Akaike N ... -  《NEUROSCIENCE》

Modulation of allopregnanolone on excitatory transmitters release from single glutamatergic terminal.

Neurosteroids such as allopregnanolone (Allo) are widely distributed in the brain and may modulate neuronal excitability under physiological or pathological states. Allo modulates GABAA receptor responses, and in this study we investigated the functional effects of Allo on presynaptic GABAA receptors on single glutamatergic nerve terminal projecting on CA3 neurons. In the present study, we measured spontaneous and evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs and eEPSCs), the latter was elicited with single or paired-pulse focal electrical stimulation, using mechanically isolated 'synaptic bouton' preparation. Allo (10 nM) increased significantly eEPSC amplitude while decreasing the failure rate (Rf) and the paired-pulse response ratio (PPR). Conversely high concentration (100 nM) of Allo decreased eEPSC amplitude and increased Rf and PPR. Allo also increased significantly the frequency and amplitude of sEPSCs at low concentrations (10-30 nM) but at high concentration (100 nM) it had no effect on current amplitude but modestly decreased sEPSC frequency. Application of Allo at nanomolar concentrations facilitated exogenous muscimol-induced outward postsynaptic currents but had no effect on glutamate-induced inward postsynaptic currents. Our results demonstrate that Allo modulates glutamate release via presynaptic GABAA receptors, in addition to its better characterized effects to modulate postsynaptic GABAA responses. Both pre- and postsynaptic GABAA receptor modulation is likely to contribute to the physiological actions of neurosteroids.

Iwata S ，Wakita M ，Shin MC ，Fukuda A ，Akaike N ... -  《-》

Effects of ethanol on GABA(A) receptors in GABAergic and glutamatergic presynaptic nerve terminals.

Wakita M ，Shin MC ，Iwata S ，Nonaka K ，Akaike N ... -  《-》