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GABA-activated Single-channel and Tonic Currents in Rat Brain Slices

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GABA(A) receptor-mediated miniature postsynaptic currents and alpha-subunit expression in developing cortical

D D Dunning¹, C L Hoover, I Soltesz

¹Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of California, Irvine, California 92697-1280, USA.

Journal of Neurophysiology

|December 22, 1999

Summary

Changes in GABA(A) receptors (GABA(A)Rs) with alpha1 subunits are key to the maturation of inhibitory transmission in the developing rodent brain. This study reveals how these receptors mature, impacting synaptic function.

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Published on: August 16, 2018

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Developmental Biology
Molecular Biology

Background:

GABAergic inhibitory synaptic transmission undergoes maturational changes in the rodent somatosensory cortex.
Understanding the role of GABA(A) receptors (GABA(A)Rs) in this development is crucial for comprehending neural circuit maturation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the functional properties of synaptically localized GABA(A)Rs during cortical development.
To determine if changes in GABA(A)R subunit composition contribute to the maturation of inhibitory transmission.

Main Methods:

Whole-cell recording to examine GABAergic miniature postsynaptic currents (mPSCs) in developing cortical neurons.
Pharmacological studies using zolpidem and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to analyze GABA(A)R subunit expression (alpha1 and alpha5).

Main Results:

GABAergic mPSC frequency increased eightfold, and decay time decreased twofold in cultured cortical neurons over 4 weeks.
Zolpidem's potency increased with development, indicating a rise in functional alpha1-containing GABA(A)Rs.
Alpha1 subunit mRNA expression increased relative to alpha5, correlating with faster mPSC decay.

Conclusions:

Functional and compositional changes in synaptically localized GABA(A)Rs, particularly involving alpha1 subunits, contribute significantly to the maturation of inhibitory synaptic transmission in the developing rodent neocortex.