title: Modulation of extracellular GABA levels in the retina by activation of glial P2X-purinoceptors.
abstract: 1. In the rat retina, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) released as a transmitter is inactivated by uptake mainly into glial cells (Müller cells). Activation of P2-purinoceptors in Müller cells increases [Ca2+]i and the present study was undertaken to see whether this action affected the glial release of [3H]-GABA from the superfused rat isolated retina. 2. Adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and the P2X-purinoceptor agonists, alpha,beta-methylene-ATP (alpha,beta-meATP) and beta,gamma-methyleneATP (beta,gamma-meATP) significantly increased the KCl-evoked release of [3H]-GABA from the retina. 3. Adenosine and the P2Y-purinoceptor agonist, 2-chloroATP, had no effect on the KCl-evoked release of [3H]-GABA from the retina. However, 2-methylthioATP (2-Me-S-ATP) significantly enhanced the evoked release of [3H]-GABA. 4. The effect of ATP on the glial release of [3H]-GABA was abolished by the P2-antagonist, pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulphonic acid (PPADS). 5. When the superfused retina was exposed to the GABA uptake inhibitor, SKF89976A, the enhancing effect of alpha,beta-meATP on the KCl-evoked release of GABA was abolished. 6. The KCl-evoked release of [3H]-GABA from the frog retina and rat cerebrocortical slices, which take up GABA mainly into neurones, was not affected by ATP or alpha,beta-meATP. 7. We concluded that the glial Müller cells in the rat retina possess P2-receptors, activation of which increases the 'release' of preloaded [3H]-GABA apparently by reducing uptake. On balance, the results suggest the involvement of P2X-purinoceptors, although we cannot exclude the possibility that P2Y-purinoceptors may be involved. Our results suggest that ATP, as well as being a conventional transmitter in the retina, may be involved in neuronal-glial signalling and modulate the extracellular concentration of GABA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, UMDS, St Thomas' Hospital, London.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Neal
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Dent
mesh_terms: D000241:Adenosine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D009479:Neuropeptides / Q000378:metabolism; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D058910:Purinergic P2 Receptor Agonists; D058919:Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D011896:Rana temporaria; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D058476:Receptors, Purinergic P2X2; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013873:Thionucleotides / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009479:Neuropeptides; C546403:P2rx2 protein, rat; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D058910:Purinergic P2 Receptor Agonists; D058919:Purinergic P2 Receptor Antagonists; D058476:Receptors, Purinergic P2X2; D013873:Thionucleotides; C077792:pyridoxal phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulfonic acid; C005147:5'-adenylyl (beta,gamma-methylene)diphosphonate; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D011732:Pyridoxal Phosphate; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate; D000241:Adenosine; C002630:alpha,beta-methyleneadenosine 5'-triphosphate; C008501:2-methylthio-ATP