title: The GABAB1a isoform mediates heterosynaptic depression at hippocampal mossy fiber synapses.
abstract: GABA(B) receptor subtypes are based on the subunit isoforms GABA(B1a) and GABA(B1b), which associate with GABA(B2) subunits to form pharmacologically indistinguishable GABA(B(1a,2)) and GABA(B(1b,2)) receptors. Studies with mice selectively expressing GABA(B1a) or GABA(B1b) subunits revealed that GABA(B(1a,2)) receptors are more abundant than GABA(B(1b,2)) receptors at glutamatergic terminals. Accordingly, it was found that GABA(B(1a,2)) receptors are more efficient than GABA(B(1b,2)) receptors in inhibiting glutamate release when maximally activated by exogenous application of the agonist baclofen. Here, we used a combination of genetic, ultrastructural and electrophysiological approaches to analyze to what extent GABA(B(1a,2)) and GABA(B(1b,2)) receptors inhibit glutamate release in response to physiological activation. We first show that at hippocampal mossy fiber (MF)-CA3 pyramidal neuron synapses more GABA(B1a) than GABA(B1b) protein is present at presynaptic sites, consistent with the findings at other glutamatergic synapses. In the presence of baclofen at concentrations >or=1 microm, both GABA(B(1a,2)) and GABA(B(1b,2)) receptors contribute to presynaptic inhibition of glutamate release. However, at lower concentrations of baclofen, selectively GABA(B(1a,2)) receptors contribute to presynaptic inhibition. Remarkably, exclusively GABA(B(1a,2)) receptors inhibit glutamate release in response to synaptically released GABA. Specifically, we demonstrate that selectively GABA(B(1a,2)) receptors mediate heterosynaptic depression of MF transmission, a physiological phenomenon involving transsynaptic inhibition of glutamate release via presynaptic GABA(B) receptors. Our data demonstrate that the difference in GABA(B1a) and GABA(B1b) protein levels at MF terminals is sufficient to produce a strictly GABA(B1a)-specific effect under physiological conditions. This consolidates that the differential subcellular localization of the GABA(B1a) and GABA(B1b) proteins is of regulatory relevance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedicine, Institute of Physiology, Pharmazentrum, University of Basel, 4056 Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Guetg
authors.forename: Riad
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Seddik
authors.forename: Réjan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Vigot
authors.forename: Rostislav
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Turecek
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gassmann
authors.forename: Kaspar E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Vogt
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bräuner-Osborne
authors.forename: Ryuichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shigemoto
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kretz
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Frotscher
authors.forename: Akos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kulik
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bettler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D036881:Long-Term Synaptic Depression / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D019599:Mossy Fibers, Hippocampal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000502:physiology; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020033:Protein Isoforms; D018080:Receptors, GABA-B