title: GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition of Ca2+ currents and synaptic transmission in cultured rat hippocampal neurones.
abstract: 1. The effects of activation of GABAB receptors on Ca2+ currents (ICa) were investigated by application of whole-cell patch-clamp techniques to pyramidal neurones and non-pyramidal interneurones from the rat hippocampus grown in cell culture. 2. (+/-)-Baclofen (10 microM) reduced ICa evoked in pyramidal neurones at 0 mV from a holding potential of -80 mV by 33 +/- 3%. Inhibition could be observed at the peak of ICa with significant inhibition still present after 200 ms at 0 mV. When Ba2+ was used as the charge carrier (IBa) baclofen inhibited 28 +/- 3% of the current at -20 mV from a holding potential of -80 mV. The GABAB receptor antagonist 2-OH-saclofen (50-200 microM) blocked the actions of baclofen. 3. The selective Ca2+ channel blocker, omega-conotoxin fraction GVIA (omega-CgTX), was used to characterize the Ca2+ currents inhibited by baclofen. omega-CgTX (5 microM) blocked 24 +/- 3% of IBa. Following block of the omega-CgTX-sensitive current, baclofen inhibited significantly less current than under control conditions. 4. Addition of the dihydropyridine Ca2+ channel antagonist nimodipine (1 microM) inhibited 18 +/- 5% of ICa at 0 mV from a holding potential of -80 mV and 44 +/- 9% from a holding potential of -40 mV. In addition, nimodipine partially occluded subsequent responses to application of baclofen. 5. In the presence of both 5 microM-omega-CgTX and 200 nM-nimodipine, responses to baclofen were almost completely blocked at depolarized holding potentials where the dihydropyridines are most effective. 6. Inclusion of 500 microM-guanosine 5'-O-(3-thiotriphosphate) (GTP-gamma-S) in the patch pipette enhanced the response to a subsaturating concentration of baclofen and rendered the response irreversible. Subsequent addition of the adenosine receptor agonist 2-Cl-adenosine (2-CA) (1 microM; which also reduces ICa under control conditions) was without effect, suggesting that these two receptor-effector pathways converge. 7. The actions of baclofen on ICa were blocked by pre-treatment of the cultures with pertussis toxin (250 ng/ml). 8. Baclofen also inhibited ICa in non-pyramidal neurones from the hippocampus, but was slightly less effective. 9. Baclofen reduced both excitatory- and inhibitory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs and IPSCs) recorded as a consequence of extracellular stimulation of presynaptic neurones. This action was blocked by 2-OH-saclofen (200 microM) and also by pretreatment of the cultures with pertussis toxin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences, University of Chicago, IL 60637.
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Scholz
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001418:Baclofen / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004594:Electrophysiology; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology; D007395:Interneurons / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002120:Calcium Channel Agonists; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D001418:Baclofen; D002118:Calcium