GABAA and GABAB receptor-mediated effects on the spontaneous activity of the longitudinal layer in cat terminal ileum

1. GABA and GABAergic agonists-muscimol and (+/-)baclofen changed the spontaneous mechanical activity in isolated cat terminal ileum. 2. GABA at doses ranging from 5 microM to 2 mM produced concentration-dependent biphasic responses consisting of a transient relaxation followed by contractions with a tonic and a phasic components. 3. The GABA-induced relaxation was sensitive to bicuculline and picrotoxinin and was mimicked by muscimol, while the GABA-induced contractions were insensitive to bicuculline and picrotoxinin and were mimicked by (+/-)baclofen. Specific cross desensitization occurred between GABA and muscimol or GABA and (+/-)baclofen. 4. The bicuculline-sensitive relaxation induced by GABA and muscimol was abolished by atropine or tetrodotoxin (TTX), while the bicuculline-insensitive contractions induced by GABA and (+/-)baclofen were not antagonized by atropine or TTX, though they were slightly suppressed. 5. The GABA effects in the longitudinal layer of cat terminal ileum were mediated by the following receptors: -GABAA prejunctional receptors whose activation causes relaxation, probably through an inhibitory action on cholinergic neurons; -GABAB prejunctional receptors whose activation cause contractions; -GABAB postjunctional receptors located on the smooth muscle membrane whose activation induces tonic and phasic contractions.