title: L-arginine potentiates GABA-mediated synaptic transmission by a nitric oxide-independent mechanism in rat dopamine neurons.
abstract: Effects of L-arginine in the nervous system are often attributed to nitric oxide. Using whole-cell patch pipettes to record membrane currents in voltage-clamp from dopamine neurons in the rat midbrain slice, the present studies found that L-arginine potentiates GABA-dependent membrane currents via a nitric oxide-independent mechanism. L-Arginine (0.3-10 mM) increased the peak amplitude, half-width duration and time constant of decay of GABA(B) receptor-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents in a concentration-dependent manner. In the presence of CGP 35348 (300 microM), a GABA(B) receptor antagonist, L-arginine also prolonged the duration of inhibitory postsynaptic currents mediated by GABA(A) receptors, but their amplitudes were reduced. L-Arginine (10 mM) also evoked 17+/-3 pA of outward current (at -60 mV) which was significantly increased in the presence of exogenous GABA (100 microM). Pressure-ejection of GABA from micropipettes produced outward currents mediated by GABA(B) receptors (recorded in bicuculline) or GABA(A) receptors (recorded in CGP 35348); both types of receptor-mediated currents were increased by L-arginine (10 mM). In contrast, outward currents evoked by baclofen, a GABA(B) receptor agonist, were not potentiated by L-arginine. The GABA transport inhibitors NO 711 (1 microM) and nipecotic acid (1 mM) significantly increased the half-width duration and time-constant of decay of GABA(B)-mediated inhibitory postsynaptic currents, thus mimicking effects of L-arginine. However, nitric oxide donors failed to mimic effects of L-arginine on GABA(B) inhibitory postsynaptic currents, and inhibitors of nitric oxide synthesis failed to selectively block the action of L-arginine. These findings suggest that L-arginine potentiates GABA synaptic transmission by a nitric oxide-independent mechanism. Similarities between effects of L-arginine, NO 711 and nipecotic acid suggest that L-arginine inhibits a GABA transporter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland 97201, U.S.A.
authors.forename: K Z
authors.initials: KZ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018079:Receptors, GABA / Q000187:drug effects*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018079:Receptors, GABA; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D001120:Arginine; D004298:Dopamine