title: The GABAA receptor is expressed in human neurons derived from a teratocarcinoma cell line.
abstract: NT2 cells, a human teratocarcinoma cell line, are shown to be differentiated in neuron-like cells (NT2-N cells) by treatment with retinoic acid. The present study identified the neurotransmitter receptors expressed in NT2-N cells using patch-clamp recording. Voltage-sensitive Na+ currents, which are specific for neurons, were observed in NT2-N cells but not in NT2 cells, suggesting that NT2-N cells actually function as neurons. Glutamate receptor agonists, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and kainate, evoked whole-cell currents. In addition, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) evoked currents and the currents were inhibited by the selective GABAA receptor antagonist, bicuculline. In outside-out patches, GABA elicited single channel currents with two classes of the slope conductance (26 and 50 pS). No current, however, was induced by ACh, serotonin, or dopamine NT2-N cells, thus, express at least two types of the major excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitter receptor in the central nervous system, the glutamate and GAGAA receptors, suggesting that these receptors have a crucial role in neurotransmission from the earlier stage of the brain development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuoka
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondoh
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tamaki
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishizaki
mesh_terms: D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007608:Kainic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D015222:Sodium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018243:Teratocarcinoma; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D015222:Sodium Channels; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D014212:Tretinoin; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D007608:Kainic Acid; D001640:Bicuculline