Premium
GABA B receptor subtypes differentially modulate synaptic inhibition in the dentate gyrus to enhance granule cell output
Author(s) -
Foster Joshua D,
Kitchen Ian,
Bettler Bernhard,
Chen Ying
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/bph.12073
Subject(s) - gabab receptor , dentate gyrus , gabaa receptor , perforant path , population , granule cell , baclofen , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , neuroscience , population spike , receptor , chemistry , neuropil , entorhinal cortex , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , agonist , hippocampal formation , biochemistry , central nervous system , medicine , environmental health
Background and Purpose Activation of GABA B receptors in the dentate gyrus ( DG ) enhances granule cell ( GC ) activity by reducing synaptic inhibition imposed by hilar interneurons. This disinhibitory action facilitates signal transfer from the perforant path to the hippocampus. However, as the two main molecular subtypes, GABA B (1a,2) and GABA B (1b,2) receptors, prefer axonal terminal and dendritic compartments, respectively, they may modulate the hilar pathways at different synaptic localizations. We examined their relative expression and functions in the DG . Experimental Approach The localization of GABA B subtypes was revealed immunohistochemically using subunit‐selective antibodies in GABA B 1a –/– and GABA B 1b –/– mice. Effects of subtype activation by the GABA B receptor agonist, baclofen, were examined on the perforant path‐stimulated GC population activities in brain slices. Key Results GABA B (1a,2) receptors were concentrated in the inner molecular layer, the neuropil of the hilus and hilar neurons at the border zone; while GABA B (1b,2) receptors dominated the outer molecular layer and hilar neurons in the deep layer, showing their differential localization on GC dendrite and in the hilus. Baclofen enhanced the GC population spike to a larger extent in the GABA B1b –/– mice, demonstrating exclusively disinhibitory roles of the GABA B (1a,2) receptors. Conversely, in the GABA B1a –/– mice baclofen not only enhanced but also inhibited the population spike during GABA A blockade, revealing both disinhibitory and inhibitory effects of GABA B (1b,2) receptors. Conclusions and Implications The GABA B (1a,2) and GABA B (1b,2) receptor subtypes differentially modulate GC outputs via selective axonal terminal and dendritic locations in the hilar pathways. The GABA B (1a,2) receptors exclusively mediate disinhibition, thereby playing a greater role in gating signal transfer for hippocampal spatial and pattern learning.