PRESYNAPTIC AND POSTSYNAPTIC EFFECTS OF INHIBITORY DRUGS ON THE CRAYFISH NEUROMUSCULAR JUNCTION

On the permeability of the presynaptic terminal of the crayfish neuromuscular junction during synaptic inhibition and the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid

1. The contribution of chloride to presynaptic inhibition of the crayfish neuromuscular junction during the action of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the inhibitory transmitter was investigated. Chloride in van Harreveld's solution was replaced with propionate, acetate, methylsulphate or glycerophosphate and electrical changes were recorded intracellularly and extracellularly with micro-electrodes.2. When the preparation was soaked in Cl-deficient solutions, the quantum content of the excitatory junctional potentials (e.j.p.s), calculated from the number of failures, was increased.3. The presynaptic inhibitory action of GABA was reduced or almost absent when the preparation was soaked in Cl-deficient solution. In Cl-deficient solution the stimulation of the inhibitory axon showed little or no inhibitory action on e.j.p.s.4. If GABA was applied shortly after the outside solution was changed to the Cl-deficient one, the frequency of the spontaneous e.j.p.s was increased transiently.5. It is suggested that GABA or the inhibitory transmitter act on the presynaptic excitatory terminal and predominantly increase its permeability to chloride.

GABAergic inhibition of crayfish deep extensor abdominal muscle exhibits a steep dose-response relationship and a high degree of cooperativity

A patch-clamp study was done to characterize the recently found GABAergic (i.e. gamma-aminobutyric acid) inhibitory synaptic channels of crayfish deep extensor abdominal muscle. Outside-out patches were rapidly activated by GABA to measure the dose/response curves for the open probability of the channels, Po, and the rise time, tr, (time from Po = 0.1 to Po = 0.9). In some of the patches the GABA-activated currents decayed due to desensitization and such patches were not studied further. Rare channel openings were elicited with 0.1 mM GABA. The Po at this low concentration of GABA was 0.0005 to 0.01. Application of 10 mM GABA was necessary to reach the maximal Po of 0.9. The slope of the dose/response relationship in the double logarithmic plot was 5.4 +/- 1.1 (mean +/- SD; n = 9) between 0.1 mM and 0.2 mM GABA. The plot of tr versus GABA concentration had a peculiar shape, recently found to be characteristic for positive cooperativity of the binding sites. tr increased from a minimum at 10 mM GABA with declining concentrations of GABA and reached a peak at 0.4 mM GABA. Below 0.4 mM GABA, tr decreased again. With 0.2 mM GABA tr was 0.40 +/- 0.1 (mean +/- SD; n = 4) of the peak value measured at 0.4 mM GABA. Simulations were compared with the experimental results and a linear reaction scheme with five binding sites for GABA was established to describe the dose/response curves for Po and tr.

A patch-clamp study on a novel gamma-aminobutyric acid activated chloride channel of crayfish deep extensor abdominal muscle

The patch-clamp technique was used to study the effect of rapid pulses of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on excised membrane-patches in the outside-out configuration of the deep extensor abdominal muscle (DEAM) of crayfish. Channel currents reversed at the equilibrium potential of Cl- and were blocked by picrotoxin. Rare channel openings were elicited by 0.1 mM GABA, and a saturating open probability of 0.9 was reached with 10 nM GABA. The investigated channel was only sensitive to GABA and is different from a previously described GABAergic channel in crayfish that is in addition sensitive to acetylcholine and glutamate and shows three subconductance states.

Pharmacology of GABA receptors on skeletal muscle fibres of the locust (Schistocerca gregaria)

GABA and the trans isomer of 4-aminocrotonic acid are equally potent at inducing increases in Cl- conductance when applied to distal extensor tibia muscle fibres of the locust (Schistocerca gregaria). beta-Alanine, norvaline, glycine and norleucine induced conductance increases of less than 5% of GABA responses. C9 and meso-di-GABA did not alter input conductance in a manner consistent with actions on a GABA receptor Cl- channel complex. Picrotoxin and anisatin were equally potent GABA antagonists, however bicuculline and penicillin G did not reduce GABA-induced changes in input conductance. Pentobarbitone, in addition to inducing an increase in K+ conductance, potentiated GABA-induced increases in Cl- permeability.

Baclofen has a presynaptic action at the crayfish neuromuscular junction

The action of baclofen, a GABA analog, was studied at the crayfish neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Baclofen depressed the amplitude of excitatory junction potentials (ejps) without affecting muscle input resistance and reduced the frequency of spontaneous miniature ejps without affecting their size. Thus, baclofen may mediate presynaptic inhibition by depressing transmitter release from the excitatory nerve. The site of baclofen's effect at the crayfish NMJ may parallel its site of action in the vertebrate nervous system.

Biochemical and electrophysiological characteristics of mammalian GABA receptors

The concept that GABA is a neurotransmitter in the mammalian CNS is supported by both electrophysiological and biochemical data. Whereas the electrophysiological studies are essential for demonstrating a specific functional response to GABA, the biochemical approach is useful for characterizing the molecular properties of this site. As a result of these studies the concept of the GABA receptor has progressed from a simple model of a single recognition site associated with a chloride channel to a more complex structure having a variety of interacting components. Thus, both electrophysiological and biochemical data support the existence of at least two pharmacologically distinct types of GABA receptors, based on the sensitivity to bicuculline. Also, anatomically, there appear to be two different types of receptors, those located postsynaptically on the soma or dendrites of a neighboring cell and those found presynaptically on GABAergic and other neurotransmitter terminals. From biochemical studies it appears that the GABA receptor may be composed of at least three distinct interacting components. One of these, the recognition site, may exist in two conformations, with one preferring agonists and the other having a higher affinity for antagonists. Ion channels may be considered a second component, with some of these regulating the passage of chloride ion, whereas others may be associated with calcium transport. The third major element of GABA receptors appears to be a benzodiazepine recognition site, although only a certain population of GABA receptors may be endowed with this property. In addition to these, the GABA receptor complex appears to contain substances that modulate the recognition site by influencing the availability of higher affinity binding proteins. It would appear therefore that changes affecting any one of these constituents can influence the characteristics of the others. While increasing the complexity of the system, this arrangement makes for a more sensitive and adaptable receptor mechanism. Thus the GABA receptor can be envisioned as a supramolecular complex of interacting sites, all of which contribute to the functional expression of receptor activation. Because of this complexity, GABA receptors can theoretically be modified in a variety of ways by drug treatment or disease. Accordingly, it may be possible to develop selective agonists and antagonists that may act at one of the basic components, as well as agents that may alter the receptor modulators. Conversely, a disorder of any of these entities may result in an alteration of GABA receptor function, which in turn could contribute to the symptoms of a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Enhanced release of inhibitory and excitatory transmitter quanta in the crayfish neuromuscular junction by glycine and GABA

High concentrations of glycine (greater than or equal to 0.1 mol/l) applied to the bathing medium of voltage-clamped muscle fibres elicited high rates of spontaneous inhibitory miniature currents (sIPSCs) which were identified by means of the noise analysis technique. The rate of spontaneous excitatory miniature currents (sEPSCs) was not raised appreciably in presence of these high concentrations of glycine. Contrary to the effect of glycine, high concentrations of GABA (greater than or equal to 0.1 mol/l) desensitized inhibitory postsynaptic receptors and induced high rates of sEPSCs. When, in addition to GABA, glycine was also applied at high concentrations, the discharge of sEPSCs was suppressed. Moreover, glycine reduced significantly the current noise intensity elicited by activation of excitatory postsynaptic membrane channels with 1.10(-4) mol/l glutamate. The experiments suggest an inhibitory action of glycine on the excitatory receptor--channel complex in the postsynaptic membrane.

Dose-conductance relationships for GABA agonists and the effect of uptake inhibitors in crayfish stretch receptor neurons

The interaction of GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) and structurally-related compounds with postsynaptic GABA receptors was studied quantitatively by measuring receptor-mediated increases in membrane input conductance in isolated crayfish stretch receptor neurons (SRN). The following compounds, in order of decreasing potency, were effective agonists: muscimol greater than GABA greater than isoguvacine greater than (-)gamma-amino-beta-hydroxybutyric acid greater than beta-gu anidinopropionic acid greater than 3-aminopropanesulfonic acid greater than (+)gamma-amino-beta-hydroxybutyric acid greater than isonipecotic acid greater than THIP. A highly significant correlation was found between the log potencies for GABA agonists that were obtained in the SRN and those obtained in our laboratory using mammalian GABA receptor binding assays. Hill plot analyses of the log concentration-conductance data from the SRN indicated a Hill slope (nH) of approximately 2 for all agonists except GABA and guanidinopropionic acid (nH greater than 2), two compounds known to be actively accumulated by cellular GABA uptake processes. Nipecotic acid, guvacine, and L-alpha, beta-diaminopropionic acid, blockers of GABA uptake processes, had essentially no effect by themselves on the SRN membrane input conductance at concentrations up to 5 mM, however, they potentiated the effects of sub-maximal concentrations of GABA and decreased the steepness of the log concentration-conductance curve, and consequently nH, for GABA. The effects of muscimol, however, were not affected. When the influence of uptake processes was considered, it appeared that all agonists tested acted by the same cooperative mechanism which required at least two molecules of agonist to activate a receptor-ionophore unit.

Effects of anisatin on the GABA action in the crayfish neuromuscular junction

Anisatin depressed the conductance increase produced by GABA in a non-competitive manner and decreased the amplitude of the inhibitory junctional potentials. The presynaptic inhibition was depressed by anisatin in the similar concentrations to those of picrotoxin. The blockade of the presynaptic inhibition by anisatin was irreversible, whereas the effect of anisatin on postsynaptic inhibition subsided after prolonged washing of the preparation.

Effects of glycine, beta-alanine and diazepam upon morphine-tolerant-dependent mice

The effects in mice of glycine, beta-alanine and diazepam on the analgesic response to morphine, on the intensity of tolerance and on the physical dependence on the analgesic have been examined. The two amino acids increased the analgesic response to morphine in a dose-related manner. However, both compounds were ineffective in the analgesic test (hot plate) when administered without morphine. Diazepam was ineffective in the analgesic test and it did not alter morphine analgesia, except when administered in a high dose which decreased and analgesic response. Glycine, either in single or repeated doses, did not modify tolerance to morphine, whereas beta-alanine induced a dose-related partial antagonism, which promptly reached a plateau. Diazepam induced a small decrease in the intensity of tolerance to the analgesic. The abstinence syndrome to morphine, induced by naloxone administration to primed mice, was reduced by single doses of glycine or beta-alanine. Diazepam behaved as a weak inhibitor of the abstinence syndrome when administered at a high dose. The potentiation of morphine analgesia and the antagonism of the abstinence syndrome induced by the amino acids may be related to their hyperpolarizing action in the c.n. system. The effects of beta-alanine on morphine tolerance cannot be explained by the same mechanism.

Transient apnoea after systemic injection of GABA in the rat

1. I. v. or i.a. injection of GABA produced a transient apnoea in rats under pentobarbital anaesthesia. The dose-response relationship and specifity of this effect were investigated. 2. Injection of GABA into the femoral vein led to an apnoea of dose-dependent duration, the dose-response curve showed an ED50 of about 5 mumoles GABA kg-1 and a maximum duration of about 8 s. 3. The depressant action of systemic GABA on respiration seems to be specific as only close structural analogues of GABA such as trans-4-aminocrotonic acid, beta-hydroxy-GABA, delta aminovaleric acid, beta-alanine, and taurine were able to mimic the action of GABA. 4. Injection of these structural analogues of GABA 15 s rior to an injection of GABA inhibited the respiratory depressant effect of GABA dose-dependently. Picrotoxin also antagonized the apnoic action of GABA. 5. The results indicate that the apnoea induced by systemic injection of GABA is mediated by an action on GABA receptors.

Characterization and ionic basis of GABA-induced depolarizations recorded in vitro from cat primary afferent neurones

1. Responses of single cells in the isolated cat spinal ganglion to GABA applied by superfusion or by iontophoresis were recorded using intracellular micro-electrodes. 2. Of the twelve structurally related compounds investigated, GABA was the most effective in its ability to produce a depolarization of the cell membrane. 3. Studies determining concentration-response relationships indicate that two to three molecules of GABA are required to combine with the GABA receptor for activation. 4. Bicuculline and picrotoxin, each act in a non-competitive manner to antagonize the GABA-induced membrane current. 5. The equilibrium potential for iontophoretically induced GABA depolarizations (EGABA) was found to be -23.5 plus or minys 6.1 mV. EGABA was independent upon [cl-]o, but independent of [Na+]o, [K+], or [Ca2+]o. 6. Intracellular injection of twenty antions (Br-, I-, NO2-, NO3-, ClO4-, SCN-, Bf4-, HS-, OCN-, ClO3-, BrO3-, F-, HCO2-, HSO3-, HCO3-, CH3CO2-, SO42-, C6H5O73-) indicated that the activated GABA receptor membrane was permeable to those anions whose hydrated diameter is no larger than that of ClO-3. 7. Restoration of the GABA depolarization to its control level after augmentation by Cl- injection had a mean time constant of 27.8 plus or minus 2.6 min. Picrotoxin did not alter this value. 8. When foreign anions were exchanged for Cl- in the perfusion solution, the ten anaions smaller or equal to ClO3-, decreased the GABA depolarization by 50-90% and increased its time course 1.5-2.0 x control. The only exception having a small radius was Br- which augmented the amplitude 10-30%. 9. The ten anions larger than ClO3- produced a biphasic effect, i.e. an initial augmentation followed by a marked (up to 100%) depression of the response. Experiments with CH3COO-, CH3SO4-, or HOCH2CH2SO3-, indicated that this depression was non-competitive.

Four types of GABA receptors in crayfish leg muscles characterized by desensitization and specific antagonist

The effects of application of GABA were studied in the closer and stretcher muscle of crayfish walking legs and compared to those on the opener muscle. EPSPs were measured intracellularly and extracellularly at single synaptic spots, and the input resistance of the muscle fiber was determined. In contrast to the opener muscle, in the closer and stretcher GABA receptors desensitized nearly completely within 5-10 min in the presence of GABA. The presynaptic receptors desensitized more slowly than the postsynaptic ones. While in the opener muscle betaguanidino propionic acid (betaGPA) activates only the presynaptic GABA receptors, in the closer and stretcher muscles both the pre- and the postsynaptic receptors are activated by betaGPA. The postsynaptic GABA receptor on the closer muscle desensitizes in the presence of betaGPA. The results show that with respect to desensitization and the effect of betaGPA four types of GABA receptors can be distinguished. As far as is known from the literature, the homologous synapses in lobster and crab can be assumed to have the same receptor types as those found in crayfish.

Penicillin decreases chloride conductance in crustacean muscle: a model for the epileptic neuron

The effects of penicillin were studied on the neuromuscular preparation of the ghost crab, Ocypoda cursor. Penicillin in doses lower than 2 mM reduced both the amplitude of inhibitory junction potentials and conductance increases induced by external application of GABA. The nature of the latter effect appears to be 2-fold, a weaker competitive inhibition and a more powerful non-competitive effech which may be ionophore blockade. Penicillin in concentrations above 2 mM diminished resting conductance, especially that of chloride. The action of penicillin is, in general, to decrease chloride conductance in this preparation. The crustacean neuromuscular preparation may provide a useful analogue for understanding penicillin evoked epilepsy. The reduced chloride conductance could explain decreased inhibition, increased excitation and depolarization shifts in cortical neurons.

Some characteristics of pre- and post-synaptic inhibitory receptors at the hermit crab neuromuscular junction

1 The effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), beta-guanidinopropionic acid (betaGP) and picrotoxin on the pre- and post-synaptic receptors of the hermit crab neuromuscular junction were studied quantitatively usine electrophysiological techniques. Reductions in excitatory junction potential (e.j.p.) amplitude and membrane resistance were measured simultaneously from the same cells. 2 The pre- and post-synaptic receptors were activated by the same order of concentration of GABA, whereas betaGP stimulated the pre-synaptic receptors at a concentration ten times lower than was required to affect the post-synaptic membrane. 3 Picrotoxin appeared to antagonize the pre-synaptic action of betaGP in a competitive manner. The affinity constants (+/- s.e. mean) for picrotoxin 5 times 10(-6)M and 2 times 10(-4)M were 6.80(+/-0.46) times 10(5)M-1 and 6.42(+/-1.8) times 10(5)M-1 respectively. 4 The effect of GABA on e.j.p. amplitude also appeared to be antagonized competitively by picrotoxin whereas the post-synaptic effect was antagonized in a non-competitive manner. 5 Possible differences in the nature of the pre- and post-synaptic receptors are discussed.

Studies on convulsants in the isolated frog spinal cord. I. Antagonism of amino acid responses

1. The isolated frog spinal cord was used to study the effects of picrotoxin, bicuculline, and strychnine on the responses of primary afferents to amino acids. Recording was by sucrose gap technique. 2. A series of neutral amino acids was found to depolarize primary afferents. Optimal activity was obtained by an amino acid whose carboxyl and amino groups were separated by a three-carbon chain length (i.e. GABA). Amino acids with shorter (i.e. beta-alanine, glycine) or longer (i.e. delta-aminovaleric acid, epsilon-aminocaproic acid) distances between the charged groups were less potent. Imidazoleacetic acid was the most potent depolarizing agent tested. 3. Picrotoxin and bicuculline antagonized the primary afferent depolarizations of a number of amino acids tested with equal specificity. Depolarizing responses to standard (10- minus 3 M) concentrations of beta-alanine and taurine were completely blocked by these convulsants, while depolarizations to 10- minus 3 gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were only partially antagonized. Glycine responses were unaffected by these agentsk; Strychnine completely blocked beta-alanine and taurine depolarizations and incompletely antagonized several other neutral amino acids. GABA, glutamate, and glycine depolarizations were not affected. 5. These results suggest that there are at least three distinct populations of neutral amino acid receptors on primary afferent terminals: a GABA-like receptor, a taurine/beta-alanine receptor, and a glycine-like receptor. The strychnine resistance of the glycine responses indictaes that the primary afferent receptors for glycine differ from those on the somata of spinal neurones.

Depolarizing actions of gamma-aminobutyric acid and related compounds on rat superior cervical ganglia in vitro

1 Potential changes in rat superior cervical ganglia were recorded in vitro with surface electrodes.2 gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) produced a transient, low-amplitude ganglion depolarization at rest, and a transient hyperpolarization in ganglia depolarized by carbachol. Depolarization was not prevented by preganglionic denervation. The log dose-response curve for depolarization was sigmoid with a mean ED(50) of 12.5 muM.3 The ganglion was depolarized in similar manner by the following compounds (mean molar potencies relative to GABA (=1) in brackets): 3-aminopropane sulphonic acid (3.4), gamma-amino-beta-hydroxybutyric acid (0.27), beta-guanidino-propionic acid (0.12), guanidinoacetic acid (0.057), delta-aminovaleric acid (0.048), beta-alanine (0.01), 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, gamma-guanidinobutyric acid, taurine and N-methyl-GABA (all <0.01). The following compounds did not depolarize the ganglion at 10 mM concentrations: alpha- and beta-amino-n-butyric acids, alpha-amino-iso-butyric acid, glycine and glutamic acid.4 Depolarization declined in the continued presence of GABA. Ganglia thus ;desensitized' to GABA showed a diminished response to other amino acids but not to carbachol.5 The effect of GABA was not antagonized by hyoscine and hexamethonium in combination, in concentrations sufficient to block responses to carbachol.6 Responses to GABA were blocked more readily than those to carbachol by bicuculline (IC(50), 14 muM) and picrotoxin (IC(50), 37 muM). Strychnine (IC(50), 73 muM) was a relatively weak and less selective GABA-antagonist.7 It is concluded that sympathetic ganglion cells possess receptors for GABA and related amino acids which are (a) different from the acetylcholine receptors and (b) similar to GABA receptors in the central nervous system.

Electrophysiological investigation of GABA-mediated inhibition at the hermit crab neuromuscular junction

1. The inhibitory neuromuscular junction of the abductor muscle of the large claw of the hermit crab (Eupagurus bernhardus) was investigated using electrophysiological intracellular techniques in order to elucidate further the relative contributions of the pre- and post-synaptic mechanisms of action of GABA and of neural inhibition.2. The electrical constants of the post-synaptic membrane, calculated using the equations for a ;short cable' model, were characteristic of a poorly developed electrical excitability; the specific membrane resistance was usually < 1000 Omega cm(2) and the specific membrane capacitance was > 40 muF/cm(2).3. Stimulation of the excitatory axon to the abductor muscle of the large claw at a frequency of 20 Hz evoked highly facilitating excitatory junction potentials (e.j.p.s); stimulation of the inhibitory axon (60-220 Hz) during the excitatory train elicited inhibition which was manifest as an attenuation of the e.j.p.s.4. The addition of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) to the bathing solution produced a dose-dependent reduction of e.j.p. amplitude and membrane resistance. The inhibitory effect of concentrations (5 x 10(-5) and 1 x 10(-4)M) which caused a 40-75% e.j.p. attenuation could largely be accounted for by a post-synaptic action on membrane conductance.5. Experiments with picrotoxin suggest that presynaptic inhibitory mechanisms have an important role in neurally evoked inhibition.6. Picrotoxin (1-5 x 10(-5)M) effectively blocked neural inhibition and the actions of GABA in this preparation, whereas bicuculline proved to be considerably less potent and therefore less useful as a physiological tool for studying GABA-mediated inhibition in crustacea.

Competitive interaction of beta-guanidino propionic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid on the muscle fibre of the crayfish

1. The interaction of beta-guanidino propionic acid and gamma-aminobutyric acid has been investigated on the crayfish muscle by measurement of the membrane conductance.2. The increase in membrane conductance produced by GABA is depressed by beta-guanidino propionic acid. This antagonist acts in a competitive way as shown by the shift of log dose-response curves and by the results of tests for competitive interaction (method of Schild (1947); Lineweaver and Burk's plot).3. Perfusion of GABA was shown to induce a receptor desensitization. As a consequence, the slope of the dose-response curve plotted in Hill's co-ordinates increases when care is taken to minimize this phenomenon. The significance of this slope for establishing the real number of GABA molecules binding with the GABA receptor is discussed.

Desensitization of gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors in muscle fibers of the crab Cancer borealis

Carcinus muscle fibers respond to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) with a conductance increase that subsides rather rapidly. In the larger fibers which have low input resistance the decrease may disappear within 2 min. The inhibition of the excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSP's) by GABA nevertheless persists as long as the drug is applied. The subsidence of the increased conductance indicates that the membrane of the inhibitory synapses has become desensitized to GABA. The persistence of inhibition of the EPSP's appears to be due to an action of the drug on the presynaptic terminals of the excitatory axons which reduces or blocks the secretory activity that releases the excitatory transmitter.