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Activity‐Dependent Regulation of GABA A Receptors
Author(s) -
PENSCHUCK SILKE,
PAYSAN JACQUES,
GIORGETTA OLIVIA,
FRITSCHY JEANMARC
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1999.tb11342.x
Subject(s) - gabaa receptor , receptor , neuroscience , chemistry , gabaa rho receptor , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , biochemistry
GABA A receptor heterogeneity is based on the combinatorial assembly of a large family of subunits into distinct receptor subtypes. A neuron‐specific expression pattern of receptor subtypes has been demonstrated in adult rat brain, which can be reproduced in vitro in primary neuron cultures. This suggests that genetic programs established during ontogeny govern the expression of γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA A ) receptor subtypes. Activity‐dependent mechanisms nevertheless modulate on a short‐term basis the cell surface expression of GABA A receptors, as demonstrated in cultured hippocampal neurons upon blockade of synaptic transmission or application of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor. Preliminary evidence points to changes in protein phosphorylation as a mechanism underlying short‐term activity‐dependent regulation of GABA A receptors. In vivo , chronic pharmacological modulation of neuronal activity during development, while having marked effects on the rate of cortical growth, failed to influence the expression of GABA A receptor subtypes, suggesting that additional factors are involved.