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GABA A receptor agonists modulate K + currents in adult hippocampal glial cells in situ
Author(s) -
Bekar Lane K.,
Jabs Ronald,
Walz Wolfgang
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
glia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.954
H-Index - 164
eISSN - 1098-1136
pISSN - 0894-1491
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-1136(199904)26:2<129::aid-glia4>3.0.co;2-7
Subject(s) - muscimol , gabaa receptor , bicuculline , biology , neuroglia , hippocampal formation , neuroscience , patch clamp , receptor , blockade , gabab receptor , electrophysiology , endocrinology , central nervous system , biochemistry
Glial cells are known for their role in development and expression of GABA receptors. However, there seems to be a lack of in situ studies characterizing GABA receptor expression and function in glial cells from early development to adulthood. Consequently, we examined GABA receptor expression on rat hippocampal glial cells in both neonatal and adult slices using the whole‐cell patch‐clamp technique. Glial cells in adult and neonatal slices exhibit responses to muscimol (1 mM; GABA A ), but not baclofen (1 mM; GABA B ), demonstrating that receptor electrophysiology remains qualitatively similar in glial cells throughout development. Adult muscimol current densities however, do show a decrease in size to approximately 36% of the neonatal response. Muscimol responses were found to be sensitive to bicuculline, suggesting that they are mediated by GABA A receptors. In addition to receptor currents, muscimol causes a concomitant long‐term blockade of outward K + currents in glial cells of both neonatal and adult slices. Comparisons of percentage peak blockade in adult and neonatal glial cells show no significant difference. However, when comparing average absolute conductance blockade, we see that adult glial cells display a significantly smaller response than neonatal and cultured astrocytes. Therefore, although the percentage blockade of outward currents remains consistent throughout development, neonatal glial cells display a larger physiological effect. Thus, it can be concluded that, although the complex GABA response in glial cells is affected by development, the receptor current and secondary blockade are a basic mechanism for neuronal–glial interaction throughout life. GLIA 26:129–138, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.