title: GABAergic disinhibition facilitates polysynaptic excitatory transmission in rat anterior cingulate cortex.
abstract: Various studies implicate the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in processing pain. Combining whole-cell patch clamp recordings in rat ACC slices and a formalin-induced conditioned place avoidance (F-CPA) behavioral model, the present study was to address the effect of GABA(A) receptors on excitatory transmission to ACC layer V neurons and its possible functional significance related to pain. Removal of GABA(A) inhibition by bicuculline (10 microM) induced a novel long-lasting response in layer V neurons, which could be blocked by high divalent extracellular solution and was sensitive to relatively higher rate stimuli. Co-application of NMDA receptor antagonist APV (50 microM) and non-NMDA receptor antagonist DNQX (10 microM) completely blocked the responses. Enhancement of inhibition by intra-ACC microinjection of muscimol abolished the acquisition of F-CPA without affecting formalin-induced acute nociceptive responses. These results suggest that GABA(A) inhibition may be involved in pain-related aversion by modulating glutamate-mediated excitatory transmission in the ACC.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Neurobiology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Wen-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Yu-Qiu
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhi-Qi
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000378:metabolism*; D004594:Electrophysiology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017470:Receptors, Glutamate / Q000378:metabolism; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D017470:Receptors, Glutamate; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D001640:Bicuculline