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An unusual effect of γ‐aminobutyric acid on synaptic transmission of frog tectal neurones in vitro
Author(s) -
Nistri A.,
Sivilotti Lucia
Publication year - 1985
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/j.1476-5381.1985.tb11092.x
Subject(s) - bicuculline , picrotoxin , muscimol , strychnine , excitatory postsynaptic potential , gaba receptor antagonist , chemistry , aminobutyric acid , neuroscience , tectum , neurotransmission , gamma aminobutyric acid , grenouille , biophysics , inhibitory postsynaptic potential , biology , gabaa receptor , biochemistry , central nervous system , midbrain , salientia , receptor , xenopus , gene
1 Bath‐applied γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) enhanced, in a dose‐dependent fashion, the amplitude of optic nerve‐evoked monosynaptic excitatory responses of the frog optic tectum superfused in vitro at 7°C. 2 Muscimol was more potent than GABA in eliciting similar effects. 3 GABA‐induced responses were antagonized by picrotoxin and were insensitive to bicuculline or strychnine. 4 Raising the bath temperature to 20°C reduced the potency of GABA on these preparations. 5 No significant effect of GABA on the compound action potential of the whole optic nerve was found. 6 These data indicate that GABA can amplify visual inputs to the tectum through bicuculline‐insensitive mechanisms.