title: G-protein-mediated desensitization of metabotropic glutamatergic and muscarinic responses in CA3 cells in rat hippocampus.
abstract: 1. Desensitization of a metabotropic response was investigated in CA3 pyramidal neurons in hippocampal slice cultures using the patch-clamp technique. 2. 1S,3R-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylate (1S,3R-ACPD), an agonist at metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), and metacholine (MCh), an agonist at muscarinic receptors, induced a cationic current that appears to be activated through a G-protein-independent transduction process, as previously shown. Prolonged or repetitive bath application of agonists led to rapid desensitization of the cationic current with a time constant of approximately 20 s. 3. Complete recovery from desensitization was observed within 6 min. 4. These responses mediated by mGluRs and muscarinic receptors cross-desensitized. 5. Preventing the activation of G-proteins by loading cells with GDP beta S strongly reduced or suppressed desensitization, and resulted in a sustained inward cationic current. When cells were filled with GTP gamma S to irreversibly activate G-proteins, the desensitization process was enhanced such that a first application of agonist caused a markedly reduced response. 6. These results show that a cationic current induced by metabotropic agonists in hippocampal pyramidal cells undergoes apparent desensitization and suggests that this process occurs through a G-protein-mediated inhibition of the underlying membrane conductance.
authors.affiliation: Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: N C
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Guérineau
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Bossu
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Gähwiler
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Gerber
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002412:Cations / Q000378:metabolism; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D003515:Cycloleucine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004594:Electrophysiology; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D016210:Methacholine Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate / Q000819:agonists / Q000502:physiology*; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000502:physiology*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D018721:Muscarinic Agonists; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D018094:Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D003515:Cycloleucine; D016210:Methacholine Chloride; C036361:1-amino-1,3-dicarboxycyclopentane; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins