title: Primary afferent depolarization. Distribution of the gamma-aminobutyric acid system in frog spinal cord.
abstract: In the frog spinal cord primary afferent depolarization (PAD) constitutes a powerful inhibitory control mechanism. It has been suggested that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is the transmitter substance involved in the genesis of PAD. In these studies we show that maximal glutamic acid decarboxylase activity is localized roughly 400-600 micrometers from the dorsal surface, and that correlates well with the intraspinal distribution of field potentials associated with PAD. Measurements of GABA in serial spinal cord sections cut in a dorsal--ventral direction shows that high levels of GABA are seen at 400--600 micrometers, with a peak at 800 micrometers from the dorsal surface. Stimulation at frequencies shown to produce PAD augments the release of endogenous GABA from a superfused frog hemicord preparation.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001001:Anura; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid