title: Characterization and localization of high-affinity GABA uptake in slices of the rabbit oviduct.
abstract: The characteristics of [3H]gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) uptake by slices of the rabbit oviduct were studied, and the GABA-accumulating structures were identified by histoautoradiography. A high-affinity (Km = 5 microM), sodium-dependent GABA uptake system was demonstrated which showed significant segmental variation along the oviduct with a maximal capacity (21 nmol/g tissue per h) at the fimbriated ampullary end of the organ. The uptake showed optimum values at pH 7.4 and 37 degrees C and could be influenced by changes of K+ and Ca2+ concentrations in the medium. Unlabelled GABA, ouabain and beta-alanine completely inhibited the uptake process, whereas known inhibitors of neuronal GABA uptake (L-diaminobutyric acid, nipecotic acid) produced only partial inhibition even at high doses. In autoradiographic experiments, epithelial secretory cells were predominantly labelled by [3H]GABA. These findings indicate the presence of a non-neuronal GABA uptake system in the oviductal epithelium and do not support the earlier hypothesis of GABAergic innervation in the oviduct.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D002412:Cations / Q000378:metabolism; D005187:Fallopian Tubes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000378:metabolism; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007700:Kinetics; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013696:Temperature; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid