title: Characterization of GABA(A) receptors expressed in glial cell membranes of adult mouse neocortex using a Xenopus oocyte microtransplantation expression system.
abstract: Cell membranes isolated from nervous tissue can be easily injected into Xenopus oocytes, thereby effectively "microtransplanting" functional neurotransmitter receptors. This technique therefore allows a direct functional characterization of the original membrane receptor/ion channel proteins and the associated molecules while still embedded in their natural lipid environment. Cell membranes will contain components from different types of cells, i.e. neurons and glial cells, expressing their own receptors, with possibly different properties. To study the receptor properties of a single cell type, we injected oocytes with membranes isolated only from glia (gliosomes) of adult mouse neocortex and we focused our work on GABA(A) receptors incorporated in the oocyte cell membrane. We found that GABA(A)-activated currents allowed a good biophysical and pharmacological characterization of glial GABA(A) receptors. Therefore, the microtransplantation of gliosomes into oocytes can represent a good model to study the electrical and pharmacological properties of adult glial cells under different physiological and pathological conditions. Moreover, since gliosomes can be isolated from frozen tissues, this approach can be extended to post-mortem human tissues.
authors: Department of Life Sciences and Centre for Neuroscience B.R.A.I.N., University of Trieste, Via A. Fleming 22, I-34127 Trieste, Italy. abernareggi@units.it
authors: Annalisa
authors: A
authors: Bernareggi
authors: Massimo
authors: M
authors: Grilli
authors: Mario
authors: M
authors: Marchi
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Limatola
authors: Fabio
authors: F
authors: Ruzzier
authors: Fabrizio
authors: F
authors: Eusebi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002243:Carbolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003292:Convulsants / Q000494:pharmacology; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D019579:Neocortex / Q000166:cytology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D009474:Neurons / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism*; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000187:drug effects; D016378:Tissue Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D014981:Xenopus; D015032:Zinc / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002243:Carbolines; D003292:Convulsants; D018757:GABA Modulators; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; C034818:methyl 6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D015032:Zinc; D003975:Diazepam