title: Tonic extrasynaptic GABA(A) receptor currents control gonadotropin-releasing hormone neuron excitability in the mouse.
abstract: It is well established that the GABA(A) receptor plays an important role in regulating the electrical excitability of GnRH neurons. Two different modes of GABA(A) receptor signaling exist: one mediated by synaptic receptors generating fast (phasic) postsynaptic currents and the other mediated by extrasynaptic receptors generating a persistent (tonic) current. Using GABA(A) receptor antagonists picrotoxin, bicuculline methiodide, and gabazine, which differentiate between phasic and tonic signaling, we found that ∼50% of GnRH neurons exhibit an approximately 15-pA tonic GABA(A) receptor current in the acute brain slice preparation. The blockade of either neuronal (NO711) or glial (SNAP-5114) GABA transporter activity within the brain slice revealed the presence of tonic GABA signaling in ∼90% of GnRH neurons. The GABA(A) receptor δ subunit is only found in extrasynaptic GABA(A) receptors. Using single-cell RT-PCR, GABA(A) receptor δ subunit mRNA was identified in GnRH neurons and the δ subunit-specific agonist 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo [5,4-c] pyridin-3-ol was found to activate inward currents in GnRH neurons. Perforated-patch clamp studies showed that 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo [5,4-c] pyridin-3-ol exerted the same depolarizing or hyperpolarizing effects as GABA on juvenile and adult GnRH neurons and that tonic GABA(A) receptor signaling regulates resting membrane potential. Together, these studies reveal the presence of a tonic GABA(A) receptor current in GnRH neurons that controls their excitability. The level of tonic current is dependent, in part, on neuronal and glial GABA transporter activity and mediated by extrasynaptic δ subunit-containing GABA(A) receptors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Physiology and Institute of Oral Bioscience, School of Dentistry, Chonbuk National University, Jeonju, 561-756, Korea.
authors.forename: Janardhan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bhattarai
authors.forename: Seon Ah
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jin Bong
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: So Yeong
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Allan E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Herbison
authors.forename: Pan Dong
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Seong Kyu
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D007987:Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone