Development of glycinergic transmission in organotypic cultures from auditory brain stem.
We investigated whether glycinergic transmission develops organotypically in auditory brain stem cultures. Slices of the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body and the lateral superior olive were incubated in medium with a raised extracellular K+ concentration. As in vivo, glycine receptor alpha1 subunit immunoreactivity increased and became clustered on somata and proximal dendrites. Together with organotypic expression of glycine transporter GLYT2, this indicates that molecular components of glycinergic synapses form properly. In contrast, glycinergic synaptic currents did not develop as in vivo: after 7 days in vitro they were still similar to those at the time of culture preparation. We suggest that for organotypic development of glycine receptors and transporters, Ca2+ influx due to elevated K+ is sufficient. The development of functional synaptic transmission, however, may require patterned electrical activity.
Zentrum der Physiologie, Klinikum der Johann-Wolfgang-Goethe Universität, Frankfurt, Germany.
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Ehrlich
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Ilic
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Lohmann
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Friauf
D026921:Amino Acid Transport Systems, Neutral; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D005998:Glycine / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D050487:Glycine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009847:Olivary Nucleus / Q000502:physiology; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011149:Pons / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018009:Receptors, Glycine / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
D026921:Amino Acid Transport Systems, Neutral; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D050487:Glycine Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D018009:Receptors, Glycine; C493269:Slc6a5 protein, rat; D005998:Glycine