Activity-dependent depression of GABAergic IPSCs in cultured hippocampal neurons.
Short-term depression of monosynaptic GABAergic inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) evoked between pairs of cultured rat hippocampal neurons was investigated using dual whole cell patch-clamp recordings. Paired stimuli applied to the GABAergic neuron resulted in paired-pulse depression (PPD) of the second IPSC (IPSC2) at interpulse intervals from 25 to 2,000 ms. CGP 55845A, but not CGP 35348, reduced PPD marginally. Brief paired-pulse applications of exogenous GABA indicated that postsynaptic factors made only minimal contribution to PPD of IPSCs. IPSC1 and PPD was reduced on lowering [Ca2+]o and enhanced on increasing [Ca2+]o. The potassium-channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (4-AP), which increases presynaptic Ca2+ influx, enhanced IPSC1 and PPD. Chelation of residual Ca2+ in the GABAergic boutons with EGTA-AM enhanced PPD. Stimulation of the presynaptic neuron at frequencies (f) ranging from 2.5 to 80 Hz resulted in tetanic depression of IPSCs, which declined rapidly and reached a plateau depending on f and [Ca2+]o. CGP 55845A decreased tetanic depression in the first part of the train, but this could be overcome with continued stimulation. We show that GABAergic IPSCs are robustly depressed by paired-pulse stimulation in cultured hippocampal neurons. The depression of IPSCs is mainly independent of presynaptic GABAB receptors and could be caused by depletion of releasable vesicles. Depleted synapses recover with a slow time course, depending on factors that regulate [Ca2+]i in the GABAergic boutons.
Department of Physiology, Institute of Anatomy, University of Aarhus, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
K
K
Jensen
J D
JD
Lambert
M S
MS
Jensen
D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004533:Egtazic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005333:Fetus; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D010721:Phosphinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000502:physiology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*
D002614:Chelating Agents; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D010721:Phosphinic Acids; D011412:Propanolamines; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B; C085075:CGP 55845A; D004533:Egtazic Acid; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C066430:CGP 35348; C046770:EGTA acetoxymethyl ester; D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D002118:Calcium