title: Synaptically evoked GABA transporter currents in neocortical glia.
abstract: The presence, magnitude, and time course of GABA transporter currents were investigated in electrophysiologically characterized neocortical astrocytes in an in vitro slice preparation. On stimulation with a bipolar-tungsten stimulating electrode placed nearby, the majority of cells tested displayed long-lasting GABA transporter currents using both single and repetitive stimulation protocols. Using subtype-specific GABA transporter antagonists, long-lasting GABA transporter currents were identified in neocortical astrocytes that originated from at least two subtypes of GABA transporters: GAT-1 and GAT-2/3. These transporter currents displayed slow rise times and long decay times, contrasting the time course observed for glutamate transporter currents, and are indicative of a long extracellular time course of GABA as well as a role for glial GABA transporters during synaptic transmission.
authors.affiliation: Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, 98108, USA. gkinney@u.washington.edu
authors.forename: Gregory A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Kinney
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Spain
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D050485:GABA Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D019579:Neocortex / Q000502:physiology*; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters; D051381:Rats; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D050485:GABA Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; D027361:Organic Anion Transporters; C493415:Slc6a1 protein, rat; C092004:Slc6a13 protein, rat