title: GABA mediates autoreceptor feedback inhibition in the rat carotid body via presynaptic GABAB receptors and TASK-1.
abstract: Background K+ channels exert control over neuronal excitability by regulating resting potential and input resistance. Here, we show that GABAB receptor-mediated activation of a background K+ conductance modulates transmission at rat carotid body chemosensory synapses in vitro. Carotid body chemoreceptor (type I) cells expressed GABAB(1) and GABAB(2) subunits as well as endogenous GABA. The GABAB receptor agonist baclofen activated an anandamide- and Ba2+-sensitive TASK-1-like background K+ conductance in chemoreceptor cell clusters, but was without effect on voltage-gated Ca2+ channels. Hydroxysaclofen (50 microM), 5-aminovaleric acid (100 microM) and CGP 55845 (100 nM), selective GABAB receptor blockers, potentiated the hypoxia-induced receptor potential; this effect was abolished by pre-treatment with pertussis toxin (PTX; 500 ng ml-1), an inhibitor of Gi, or by H-89 (50 microM), a selective inhibitor of protein kinase A. The protein kinase C inhibitor chelerythrine chloride (100 microM) was without effect on this potentiation. GABAB receptor blockers also caused depolarisation of type I cells in clusters, and enhanced spike discharge in spontaneously firing cells. In functional co-cultures of type I clusters and petrosal sensory neurones, GABAB receptor blockers potentiated hypoxia-induced postsynaptic chemosensory responses mediated by the fast-acting transmitters ACh and ATP. Thus GABAB receptor-mediated activation of TASK-1 or a related channel provides a presynaptic autoregulatory feedback mechanism that modulates fast synaptic transmission in the rat carotid body.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, Ontario L8S 4K1, Canada. fearoni@mcmaster.ca
authors.forename: Ian M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Fearon
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Cathy
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vollmer
authors.forename: Colin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Nurse
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017660:Autoreceptors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001418:Baclofen / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D002344:Carotid Body / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D004594:Electrophysiology; D025461:Feedback, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D058788:GABA-B Receptor Antagonists; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D024683:Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled / Q000187:drug effects; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D017661:Receptors, Presynaptic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D017660:Autoreceptors; D015220:Calcium Channels; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D058788:GABA-B Receptor Antagonists; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D015221:Potassium Channels; D024683:Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain; D043562:Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B; D017661:Receptors, Presynaptic; C420132:potassium channel subfamily K member 3; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D001418:Baclofen; D011188:Potassium