title: Regulation of synaptic input to hypothalamic presympathetic neurons by GABA(B) receptors.
abstract: The hypothalamic paraventricular (PVN) neurons projecting to the spinal cord and brainstem play an important role in the control of homeostasis and the sympathetic nervous system. Although GABA(B) receptors are present in the PVN, their function in the control of synaptic inputs to PVN presympathetic neurons is not clear. Using retrograde tracing and whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in rat brain slices, we determined the role of presynaptic GABA(B) receptors in regulation of glutamatergic and GABAergic inputs to spinally projecting PVN neurons. The GABA(B) receptor agonist baclofen (1-50 microM) dose-dependently decreased the frequency but not the amplitude of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) and inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs). The effect of baclofen on sEPSCs and sIPSCs was completely blocked by 10 microM CGP52432, a selective GABA(B) receptor antagonist. Baclofen also significantly reduced the frequency of both miniature excitatory and miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs and mIPSCs). Furthermore, uncoupling pertussis toxin-sensitive G(i/o) proteins with N-ethylmaleimide abolished baclofen-induced inhibition of mEPSCs and mIPSCs. However, the inhibitory effect of baclofen on the frequency of mIPSCs and mEPSCs persisted in the presence of either Cd2+, a voltage-gated Ca2+ channel blocker, or 4-aminopyridine, a blocker of voltage-gated K+ channels. Our results suggest that activation of presynaptic GABA(B) receptors inhibits synaptic GABA and glutamate release to PVN presympathetic neurons. This presynaptic action of GABA(B) receptors is mediated by the N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive G(i/o) proteins, but independent of voltage-gated Ca2+ and K+ channels.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA.
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: H-L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D015761:4-Aminopyridine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001418:Baclofen / Q000494:pharmacology; D001596:Benzylamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D019256:Cadmium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005033:Ethylmaleimide / Q000494:pharmacology; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D019706:Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D053444:Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000166:cytology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques / Q000379:methods; D010721:Phosphinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D001596:Benzylamines; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D018755:GABA Agonists; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D010721:Phosphinic Acids; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B; C083008:CGP 52432; D018750:6-Cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione; D015761:4-Aminopyridine; D001418:Baclofen; D019256:Cadmium Chloride; D005033:Ethylmaleimide; D001640:Bicuculline