title: Two-photon uncaging of gamma-aminobutyric acid in intact brain tissue.
abstract: We have synthesized a photosensitive (or caged) 4-carboxymethoxy-5,7-dinitroindolinyl (CDNI) derivative of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Two-photon excitation of CDNI-GABA produced rapid activation of GABAergic currents in neurons in brain slices with an axial resolution of approximately 2 mum and enabled high-resolution functional mapping of GABA-A receptors. Two-photon uncaging of GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter, should allow detailed studies of receptor function and synaptic integration with subcellular precision.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Structural Physiology, Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 003-1133, Japan, and Center for NanoBio Integration, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Masanori
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsuzaki
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Structural Physiology, Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 003-1133, Japan, and Center for NanoBio Integration, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayama
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Structural Physiology, Center for Disease Biology and Integrative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 003-1133, Japan, and Center for NanoBio Integration, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Haruo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kasai
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA.
authors.forename: Graham C R
authors.initials: GCR
authors.lastname: Ellis-Davies
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000528:radiation effects; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000528:radiation effects; D010777:Photochemistry; D010782:Photolysis / Q000528:radiation effects; D017785:Photons; D051381:Rats; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid