title: Removal of GABAergic inhibition facilitates polysynaptic A fiber-mediated excitatory transmission to the superficial spinal dorsal horn.
abstract: Primary afferent A-fiber stimulation normally evokes fast mono- or polysynaptic EPSCs of short duration. However, in the presence of the GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline, repetitive, long lasting, polysynaptic EPSCs can be observed following the initial, fast response. A-fiber-induced ERK activation is also facilitated in the presence of bicuculline. The frequency of miniature EPSCs and the amplitude of the monosynaptic A-fiber-evoked EPSCs are not affected by bicuculline or the GABA(A) receptor agonist muscimol, suggesting that GABA(A) receptors located on somatodendritic sites of excitatory interneurons are critical for this action. Bicuculline-enhanced polysynaptic EPSCs are completely eliminated by NMDA receptor antagonists APV and ketamine, as was the augmented ERK activation. This NMDA receptor-dependent phenomenon may contribute to bicuculline-induced allodynia or hyperalgesia, as well as the hypersensitivity observed in neuropathic pain patients.
authors.affiliation: Neural Plasticity Research Group, Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA. baba@med.niigata-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Baba
authors.forename: Ru-Rong
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Tatsuro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kohno
authors.forename: Kimberly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Toyofumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ataka
authors.forename: Ayako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wakai
authors.forename: Manabu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Clifford J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Woolf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003714:Denervation / Q000009:adverse effects; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; 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; D008297:Male; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated / Q000502:physiology*; D009433:Neural Inhibition / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D020426:Sciatic Neuropathy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018755:GABA Agonists; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases