Bicuculline free base blocks voltage-activated K+ currents in rat medial preoptic neurons

Modulation of spontaneous intracellular Ca²⁺ fluctuations and spontaneous cholinergic transmission in rat chromaffin cells in situ by endogenous GABA acting on GABAA receptors

Using fluorescence [Ca(2+)]i imaging in rat adrenal slices, we characterized the effects of agonists and antagonists of the GABAA receptor (GABAA-R) on resting intracellular Ca(2+) ([Ca(2+)]i) and spontaneous [Ca(2+)]i fluctuations (SCFs) in hundreds of individual chromaffin cells (CCs) recorded simultaneously in situ. Muscimol, a GABAA-R agonist (20 μM; 25 s), induced an increase of resting [Ca(2+)]i in 43 ± 3 % of CCs, a decrease in 26 ± 2 %, and no response in 30 ± 5 %. In Ca(2+)-free external medium, SCFs ceased completely and muscimol failed to elicit [Ca(2+)]i rises. All muscimol-induced [Ca(2+)]i changes were blocked by the GABAA-R antagonist bicuculline, suggesting that they result from changes in membrane potential depending on the cell's Cl(-) equilibrium potential. Unexpectedly, bicuculline increased the amplitude and frequency of SCFs in 54 % of CCs, revealing a tonic inhibition of SCFs by ambient GABA acting through GABAA-R. Mecamylamine (a specific nicotinic cholinergic blocker) decreased basal SCF activity in 18 % of CCs and inhibited bicuculline-induced SCF intensification, suggesting that spontaneous acetylcholine (ACh) release from nerve endings contributes to SCF generation in CCs in situ and that blockade of presynaptic GABAA-Rs intensifies SCFs in part through the disinhibition of spontaneous cholinergic transmission. Electrophysiological experiments confirmed that spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents recorded from CCs in situ were enhanced by bicuculline. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a regulatory effect of endogenous GABA on synaptic currents and SCFs of adrenal CCs. These findings denote a novel GABA-mediated presynaptic and postsynaptic regulatory mechanism of CC activity which may participate in the control of catecholamine secretion.

Fast synaptic inhibition in spinal sensory processing and pain control

The two amino acids GABA and glycine mediate fast inhibitory neurotransmission in different CNS areas and serve pivotal roles in the spinal sensory processing. Under healthy conditions, they limit the excitability of spinal terminals of primary sensory nerve fibers and of intrinsic dorsal horn neurons through pre- and postsynaptic mechanisms, and thereby facilitate the spatial and temporal discrimination of sensory stimuli. Removal of fast inhibition not only reduces the fidelity of normal sensory processing but also provokes symptoms very much reminiscent of pathological and chronic pain syndromes. This review summarizes our knowledge of the molecular bases of spinal inhibitory neurotransmission and its organization in dorsal horn sensory circuits. Particular emphasis is placed on the role and mechanisms of spinal inhibitory malfunction in inflammatory and neuropathic chronic pain syndromes.

Function and pharmacology of spinally-projecting sympathetic pre-autonomic neurones in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus

The paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus has been described as the "autonomic master controller". It co-ordinates critical physiological responses through control of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis, and by modulation of the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the central nervous system. The PVN comprises several anatomical subdivisions, including the parvocellular/ mediocellular subdivision, which contains neurones projecting to the medulla and spinal cord. Consensus indicates that output from spinally-projecting sympathetic pre-autonomic neurones (SPANs) increases blood pressure and heart rate, and dysfunction of these neurones has been directly linked to elevated sympathetic activity during heart failure. The influence of spinally-projecting SPANs on cardiovascular function high-lights their potential as targets for future therapeutic drug development. Recent studies have demonstrated pharmacological control of these spinally-projecting SPANs with glutamate, GABA, nitric oxide, neuroactive steroids and a number of neuropeptides (including angiotensin, substance P, and corticotrophin-releasing factor). The underlying mechanism of control appears to be a state of tonic inhibition by GABA, which is then strengthened or relieved by the action of other modulators. The physiological function of spinally-projecting SPANs has been subject to some debate, and they may be involved in physiological stress responses, blood volume regulation, glucose regulation, thermoregulation and/or circadian rhythms. This review describes the pharmacology of PVN spinally-projecting SPANs and discusses their likely roles in cardiovascular control.

Mechanism of estradiol-induced block of voltage-gated K+ currents in rat medial preoptic neurons

The present study was conducted to characterize possible rapid effects of 17-β-estradiol on voltage-gated K⁺ channels in preoptic neurons and, in particular, to identify the mechanisms by which 17-β-estradiol affects the K⁺ channels. Whole-cell currents from dissociated rat preoptic neurons were studied by perforated-patch recording. 17-β-estradiol rapidly (within seconds) and reversibly reduced the K⁺ currents, showing an EC₅₀ value of 9.7 µM. The effect was slightly voltage dependent, but independent of external Ca²⁺, and not sensitive to an estrogen-receptor blocker. Although 17-α-estradiol also significantly reduced the K⁺ currents, membrane-impermeant forms of estradiol did not reduce the K⁺ currents and other estrogens, testosterone and cholesterol were considerably less effective. The reduction induced by estradiol was overlapping with that of the K_V-2-channel blocker r-stromatoxin-1. The time course of K⁺ current in 17-β-estradiol, with a time-dependent inhibition and a slight dependence on external K⁺, suggested an open-channel block mechanism. The properties of block were predicted from a computational model where 17-β-estradiol binds to open K⁺ channels. It was concluded that 17-β-estradiol rapidly reduces voltage-gated K⁺ currents in a way consistent with an open-channel block mechanism. This suggests a new mechanism for steroid action on ion channels.

Neuronal bursting properties in focal and parafocal regions in pediatric neocortical epilepsy stratified by histology

To test the hypothesis that focal and parafocal neocortical tissue from pediatric patients with intractable epilepsy exhibits cellular and synaptic differences, the authors characterized the propensity of these neurons to generate (a) voltage-dependent bursting and (b) synaptically driven paroxysmal depolarization shifts. Neocortical slices were prepared from tissue resected from patients with intractable epilepsy. Multiunit network activity and simultaneous whole-cell patch recordings were made from neurons from three patient groups: (1) those with normal histology; (2) those with mild and severe cortical dysplasia; and (3) those with abnormal pathology but without cortical dysplasia. Seizure-like activity was characterized by population bursting with concomitant bursting in intracellularly recorded cortical neurons (n = 59). The authors found significantly more N-methyl-D-aspartic acid-driven voltage-dependent bursting neurons in focal versus parafocal tissue in patients with severe cortical dysplasia (P < 0.01). Occurrence of paroxysmal depolarization shifts and burst amplitude and burst duration were significantly related to tissue type: focal or parafocal (P < 0.05). The authors show that functional differences between focal and parafocal tissue in patients with severe cortical dysplasia exist. There are functional differences between patient groups with different histology, and bursting properties can be significantly associated with the distinction between focal and parafocal tissue.

Bicuculline-Induced Chorea Manifests in Focal Rather Than Globalized Abnormalities in the Activation of the External and Internal Globus Pallidus

Chorea is a basal-ganglia (BG) related hyperkinetic movement disorder characterized by irregular continuous involuntary movements. Chorea and related hyperbehavioral disorders may be induced in behaving primates by local microinjections of the GABAA antagonist bicuculline to the globus pallidus externus (GPe). We performed multielectrode extracellular recordings in the GPe and in the globus pallidus internus (GPi) before, during, and after bicuculline microinjections. Bicuculline led to an increase in the firing rate and a change in the firing pattern of GPe neurons. Two types of abnormal neuronal firing patterns were detected in GPe neurons close to the bicuculline microinjection site: continuous high-frequency activity and bistable activity, in which neurons transitioned between high-frequency and complete cessation of firing. Neuronal activity remained uncorrelated within and between the GPe and the GPi, with no evidence for propagation of the focal GPe abnormal activity downstream to the GPi. Despite reduction in the information capacity of bicuculline-affected GPe neurons, the ability to encode behavioral events was maintained. We found similar responses of GPe neurons to bicuculline in vitro in the rat, suggesting a basic cellular mechanism underlying these abnormal firing patterns. These results demonstrate that chorea is associated with focal neuronal changes that are not complemented by global changes in the BG nuclei. This suggests a mechanism of stochastic phasic alteration of BG control leading to the chaotic nature of chorea. Thus rather than imposing a globalized state of cortical excitability, chorea might be associated with changes in internal information processing within the BG.

Endogenous gamma-aminobutyric acid modulates tonic guinea pig airway tone and propofol-induced airway smooth muscle relaxation

BACKGROUND

Emerging evidence indicates that an endogenous autocrine/paracrine system involving gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is present in airways. GABAA channels, GABAB receptors, and the enzyme that synthesizes GABA have been identified in airway epithelium and smooth muscle. However, the endogenous ligand itself, GABA, has not been measured in airway tissues. The authors sought to demonstrate that GABA is released in response to contractile agonists and tonically contributes a prorelaxant component to contracted airway smooth muscle.

METHODS

The amount and cellular localization of GABA in upper guinea pig airways under resting and contracted tone was determined by high pressure liquid chromatography and immunohistochemistry, respectively. The contribution that endogenous GABA imparts on the maintenance of airway smooth muscle acetylcholine-induced contraction was assessed in intact guinea pig airway tracheal rings using selective GABAA antagonism (gabazine) under resting or acetylcholine-contracted conditions. The ability of an allosteric agent (propofol) to relax a substance P-induced relaxation in an endogenous GABA-dependent manner was assessed.

RESULTS

GABA levels increased and localized to airway smooth muscle after contractile stimuli in guinea pig upper airways. Acetylcholine-contracted guinea pig tracheal rings exhibited an increase in contracted force upon addition of the GABAA antagonist gabazine that was subsequently reversed by the addition of the GABAA agonist muscimol. Propofol dose-dependently relaxed a substance P contraction that was blocked by gabazine.

CONCLUSION

These studies demonstrate that GABA is endogenously present and increases after contractile stimuli in guinea pig upper airways and that endogenous GABA contributes a tonic prorelaxant component in the maintenance of airway smooth muscle tone.

Cyclothiazide binding to the GABAA receptor

In order to explore the molecular interaction between cyclothiazide (CTZ) and gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptors, possibly underlying inhibition of GABAA receptor currents, [3H]-CTZ was synthesized. Binding of [3H]-CTZ to rat brain synaptic membranes could be observed only in the presence of the GABAA receptor antagonist (-)[1S,9R]-bicuculline methiodide (BMI) (EC(50,BMI)=500+/-80microM). GABA decreased [(3)H]-CTZ binding induced by the presence 300microM and 3mM BMI with IC(50,GABA) values of 300+/-50microM and 5.0+/-0.7mM, respectively. Binding of CTZ to [3H]-CTZ labeled sites was characterized by IC(50,CTZ) values of 0.16+/-0.03muM ([BMI]=300microM) and 7.0+/-0.5microM ([BMI]=3mM). Binding of the diastereomeric fraction [3H]-(3R,1'S,4'S,5'R+3S,1'R,4'R,5'S)-CTZ induced by 3mM BMI was quantitatively the more significant in cerebrocortical and hippocampal membranes. It was characterized by IC(50,CTZ)=80+/-15nM and IC(50,GABA)=13+/-3mcapital EM, Cyrillic. In the absence of BMI, CTZ (1mM) significantly decreased GABA-induced enhancement of [3H]-flunitrazepam binding. Our findings suggest that functional inhibition may occur through binding of CTZ to an allosteric site of GABAA receptors. This allosteric site is possibly emerged in the receptor conformation, stabilized by BMI binding.

Developmental changes in central O2 chemoreflex in Rana catesbeiana: the role of noradrenergic modulation

The in vitro brainstem preparation from Rana catesbeiana shows a functional central O(2) chemoreflex. Acute brainstem exposure to hypoxic superfusate elicits lung burst frequency responses that change over the course of development. Based on studies suggesting that brainstem noradrenergic neurons are involved in this reflex, we tested the following two hypotheses in vitro: (1) activation of adrenoceptors is necessary for the expression of the fictive lung ventilation response to hypoxia, and (2) changes in fast, Cl(-)-dependent neurotransmission (GABA/glycine) contribute to developmental changes in noradrenergic modulation. Experiments were performed on preparations from pre-metamorphics tadpoles (TK stages V-XIII) and adult bullfrogs. Acute exposure to hypoxic superfusate (98% N(2), 2% CO(2)) increased fictive lung ventilation frequency in the pre-metamorphic group, whereas a decrease was observed in adults. Buccal burst frequency was unchanged by hypoxia. Noradrenaline (NA; 5 micromol l(-1)) bath application mimicked both fictive breathing responses and application of the alpha(1)-antagonist prazosine (0.5 micromol l(-1)) blocked the lung burst response to hypoxia in both groups. Blocking GABA(A)/glycine receptors with a bicuculine/strychnine mixture (1.25 micromol l(-1)/1.5 micromol l(-1), respectively) or activation of GABA(B) pre-synaptic autoreceptors with baclofen (0.5 micromol l(-1)) prevented the lung burst response to hypoxia and to the alpha(1)-agonist phenylephrine (25 micromol l(-1)) in both stage groups. We conclude that NA modulation contributes to the central O(2) chemoreflex in bullfrog, which acts via GABA/glycine pathways. These data suggest that maturation of GABA/glycine neurotransmission contributes to the developmental changes in this chemoreflex.