GABA expression dominates neuronal lineage progression in the embryonic rat neocortex and facilitates neurite outgrowth via GABA(A) autoreceptor/Cl- channels.
GABA emerges as a trophic signal during rat neocortical development in which it modulates proliferation of neuronal progenitors in the ventricular/subventricular zone (VZ/SVZ) and mediates radial migration of neurons from the VZ/SVZ to the cortical plate/subplate (CP/SP) region. In this study we investigated the role of GABA in the earliest phases of neuronal differentiation in the CP/SP. GABAergic-signaling components emerging during neuronal lineage progression were comprehensively characterized using flow cytometry and immunophenotyping together with physiological indicator dyes. During migration from the VZ/SVZ to the CP/SP, differentiating cortical neurons became predominantly GABAergic, and their dominant GABA(A) receptor subunit expression pattern changed from alpha4beta1gamma1 to alpha3beta3gamma2gamma3 coincident with an increasing potency of GABA on GABA(A) receptor-mediated depolarization. GABA(A) autoreceptor/Cl(-) channel activity in cultured CP/SP neurons dominated their baseline potential and indirectly their cytosolic Ca(2+) (Ca(2+)c) levels via Ca(2+) entry through L-type Ca(2+) channels. Block of this autocrine circuit at the level of GABA synthesis, GABA(A) receptor activation, intracellular Cl(-) ion homeostasis, or L-type Ca(2+) channels attenuated neurite outgrowth in most GABAergic CP/SP neurons. In the absence of autocrine GABAergic signaling, neuritogenesis could be preserved by depolarizing cells and elevating Ca(2+)c. These results reveal a morphogenic role for GABA during embryonic neocortical neuron development that involves GABA(A) autoreceptors and L-type Ca(2+) channels.
Laboratory of Neurophysiology, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA. maricd@ninds.nih.gov
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D
Maric
Q Y
QY
Liu
I
I
Maric
S
S
Chaudry
Y H
YH
Chang
S V
SV
Smith
W
W
Sieghart
J M
JM
Fritschy
J L
JL
Barker
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000502:physiology*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D019579:Neocortex / Q000502:physiology*; D016501:Neurites / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology*
D018118:Chloride Channels; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid