Presynaptic modulation of GABAergic inhibition by GABA(B) receptors in the rat's inferior colliculus.
Whole-cell patch clamp recordings were made from neurons in a brain slice preparation of the inferior colliculus in 11-15-day-old rat pups. Synaptic responses were elicited by applying a current pulse to the lateral lemniscus just below the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus. To examine GABAergic inhibition in the inferior colliculus all excitatory postsynaptic potentials and glycinergic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials were blocked by bath application of their respective antagonists and the contribution of GABA(B) receptors was determined for the remaining inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. For most cells the isolated inhibitory postsynaptic potential was completely blocked by the GABA(A) receptor antagonist, bicuculline, but was unaffected by the GABA(B) receptor antagonist, phaclofen. The GABA(B) receptor agonist, baclofen (10-20 microM), decreased the amplitude of the inhibitory postsynaptic potentials. This effect was completely blocked by phaclofen. Baclofen did not increase the cell membrane conductance or alter the rate of firing produced by depolarization of the cell membrane. In contrast, muscimol, a GABA(A) receptor agonist, greatly increased membrane conductance and lowered the firing rate produced by depolarization. Our results indicate that GABAergic inhibition in the auditory midbrain can be reduced by the activation of GABA(B) receptors and suggest that the effects are presynaptic.
Laboratory of Sensory Neuroscience, Psychology Department, 335 Life Sciences Research Building, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Drive, K1S 5B6, Ottawa, ON, Canada
C L
CL
Ma
J B
JB
Kelly
S H
SH
Wu
D000818:Animals; D001307:Auditory Perception / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D048429:Cell Size / Q000502:physiology; D003712:Dendrites / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007245:Inferior Colliculi / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D018091:Receptors, AMPA / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018755:GABA Agonists; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D018091:Receptors, AMPA; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid