title: Inhibition of calcium influx and calcium current by gamma-aminobutyric acid in single synaptic terminals.
abstract: Inhibition of Ca influx and Ca current by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was studied in single synaptic terminals of isolated retinal bipolar neurons. Measurements of intracellular Ca concentration [( Ca]i) using the fluorescent Ca indicator fura-2 showed that GABA potently inhibited Ca influx into the terminal elicited by high extracellular K concentration ([K]o). This inhibition was attributed to GABA type A (GABAA) receptor-activated chloride ion conductance that prevented bipolar neurons from depolarizing sufficiently to activate the Ca current, even in response to increased [K]o. Patch-clamp recordings of the Ca current revealed a second effect of GABA: GTP-dependent inhibition of the Ca current. This inhibition was not mediated by GABAA receptors, but baclofen, which binds to the GABA type B (GABAB) receptor and is known to inhibit the Ca current in other systems, was not able to mimic the action of GABA. This suggests the involvement of a different type of GABAB-like receptor in the inhibition of Ca current by GABA. GABA did not cause an overall suppression of the Ca current; rather, the voltage-dependence of Ca-channel activation was shifted to more depolarized potentials. Thus, maximal inhibition of the Ca current by GABA occurred in the physiological range of potential.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794-5230.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Heidelberger
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matthews
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001418:Baclofen / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004553:Electric Conductivity / Q000187:drug effects; D006054:Goldfish; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009118:Muscimol / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001418:Baclofen; D002118:Calcium; D015220:Calcium Channels; D009118:Muscimol; D010852:Picrotoxin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid