title: Properties of GABA and glutamate responses in identified glial cells of the mouse hippocampal slice.
abstract: In this study, the patch-clamp technique was applied to brain slices to test for the presence of GABAA and glutamate receptors in glial cells of an intact tissue preparation, the hippocampus from 9-12 day old mice. Two types of glial cells were studied in the CA1 stratum pyramidale, termed passive and complex cells, which were distinct by their characteristic pattern of voltage-dependent currents. Both cell types were previously identified as glial by combining electrophysiology with ultrastructural inspection (Steinhüser et al., 1992, Eur J Neurosci 4:472-484). A subpopulation of passive cells was positive, all complex cells were negative for immunocytochemical staining against glial fibrillary acidic protein, a marker of mature astrocytes. In both cell types, GABA activated currents compatible with GABAA-receptor mediated responses. The glutamate response in complex and in most of the passive cells was mediated by a ligand-gated ion channel and closely matched the pharmacology of the kainate receptor. Activation of glutamate receptors led to a transient decrease of the resting K+ conductance in complex cells and to an irreversible decrease in the passive cells. In three passive cells, glutamate-activated currents were most likely dominated by an electrogenic uptake. In a small group of passive cells NMDA-activated currents were observed. This study provides evidence that glial cells from an intact tissue express receptors for the most abundant transmitters in the central nervous system, glutamate, and GABA.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiology, University of Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steinhäuser
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jabs
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kettenmann
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001464:Barium / Q000494:pharmacology; D004566:Electrodes; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D005971:Glutamates; D015221:Potassium Channels; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D001464:Barium; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D007608:Kainic Acid