On the origin of extracellular GABA collected by brain microdialysis and assayed by a simplified on-line method

The present study describes a simplified on-line system for determination of GABA in brain dialysates. GABA was determined with an isocratic HPLC method after derivatization with o-phthaldialdehyde. One peristaltic pump was sufficient to transport both the perfusion fluid and the derivatizing reagent. The basal release of GABA was stimulated by infusion with either elevated K+ or the GABA uptake inhibitor (-)-nipecotic acid. Basal as well as stimulated GABA release were investigated for possible calcium-dependency by infusing submmolar amounts of the potent calcium antagonist cadmium. Infusion of cadmium did not modify the dialysate concentrations of GABA. In addition basal as well as nipecotic acid enhanced release of GABA dialysate concentrations were investigated for nerve-impulse dependency by infusing mumolar amounts of tetrodotoxin. No change in the GABA output was observed during infusion of TTX. From these results it is concluded that the basal as well as the nipecotic acid induced release of GABA did not fulfill the criteria for classic exocytotic release. Possible explanations for these unexpected findings are discussed.