title: GABAb receptors regulate chick retinal calcium waves.
abstract: Correlated spiking activity and associated Ca(2+) waves in the developing retina are important in determining the connectivity of the visual system. Here, we show that GABA, via GABA(B) receptors, regulates the temporal characteristics of Ca(2+) waves occurring before synapse formation in the embryonic chick retina. Blocking ionotropic GABA receptors did no affect these Ca(2+) transients. However, when these receptors were blocked, GABA abolished the transients, as did the GABA(B) agonist baclofen. The action of baclofen was prevented by the GABA(B) antagonist p-3-aminopropyl-p-diethoxymethyl phosphoric acid (CGP35348). CGP35348 alone increased the duration of the transients, showing that GABA(B) receptors are tonically activated by endogenous GABA. Blocking the GABA transporter GAT-1 with 1-(4,4-diphenyl-3-butenyl)-3-piperidine carboxylic acid (SKF89976A) reduced the frequency of the transients. This reduction was prevented by CGP35348 and thus resulted from activation of GABA(B) receptors by an increase in external [GABA]. The effect of GABA(B) receptor activation persisted in the presence of activators and blockers of the cAMP-PKA pathway. Immunocytochemistry showed GABA(B) receptors and GAT-1 transporters on ganglion and amacrine cells from the earliest times when Ca(2+) waves occur (embryonic day 8). Patch-clamp recordings showed that K(+) channels on ganglion cell layer neurons are not modulated by GABA(B) receptors, whereas Ca(2+) channels are; however, Ca(2+) channel blockade with omega-conotoxin-GVIA or nimodipine did not prevent Ca(2+) waves. Thus, the regulation of Ca(2+) waves by GABA(B) receptors occurs independently of N- and L-type Ca(2+) channels and does not involve K(+) channels of the ganglion cell layer. GABA(B) receptors are likely to be of key importance in regulating retinal development.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Catsicas
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mobbs
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D002642:Chick Embryo; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D018682:GABA Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D050485:GABA Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D058785:GABA-A Receptor Agonists; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D058786:GABA-B Receptor Agonists; D058788:GABA-B Receptor Antagonists; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009557:Nipecotic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000378:metabolism*; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D018682:GABA Agents; D018755:GABA Agonists; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D050485:GABA Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D058785:GABA-A Receptor Agonists; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D058786:GABA-B Receptor Agonists; D058788:GABA-B Receptor Antagonists; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D009557:Nipecotic Acids; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B; C071336:calcium green; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C045598:N-(4,4-diphenyl-3-butenyl)nipecotic acid; D000242:Cyclic AMP; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D002118:Calcium