title: Neurons in the rat arcuate nucleus are hyperpolarized by GABAB and mu-opioid receptor agonists: evidence for convergence at a ligand-gated potassium conductance.
abstract: Both gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and the endogenous opioid peptides have pervasive effects on neuroendocrine function. This study examined the effects of selective activation of GABAB and/or mu-opioid receptors on neurons of the arcuate nucelus (ARC) of the rat hypothalamus using intracellular recording of cells in a hypothalamic slice. Some recorded neurons were filled with biocytin allowing subsequent identification and immunocytochemical evaluation for the presence of beta-endorphin. ARC neurons exhibited a broad array of active and passive conductances. Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-MePhe-Gly-ol (DAGOL), a mu-opioid receptor agonist, inhibited spontaneous firing, hyperpolarized 68% of ARC cells in a dose-dependent manner and increased cell conductance. Baclofen, a GABAB receptor agonist, hyperpolarized all cells tested. The reversal potentials for both the DAGOL- and baclofen-induced currents were near that of a potassium conductance. Maximal activation by either of the agonists blocked the effects of the other agonist. Identified beta-endorphin cells were inhibited by both DAGOL and baclofen. The results of these in vitro studies suggest that GABAB and mu-opioid receptors are coupled to the same set of potassium channels and that these channels directly and powerfully inhibit most ARC cells, including beta-endorphin neurons. We propose that convergence of inhibitory influences at the ligand-gated potassium conductance described here may be an important site of interaction for opioidergic, GABAergic and other putative neurotransmitter systems in the control of neuroendocrine circuits by the ARC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Oregon Health Sciences, University, Portland.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Loose
authors.forename: O K
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Ronnekleiv
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D001418:Baclofen / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016764:Cell Polarity / Q000187:drug effects; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D004745:Enkephalins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000502:physiology*; D011957:Receptors, Opioid / Q000502:physiology*; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D001615:beta-Endorphin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D004745:Enkephalins; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D011957:Receptors, Opioid; D017450:Receptors, Opioid, mu; D020875:Enkephalin, Ala(2)-MePhe(4)-Gly(5)-; D001615:beta-Endorphin; D001418:Baclofen