Time-dependent rundown of GABA response in mammalian cns neuron during experimental anoxia

Gamma-Aminobirtyric acid (GABA) is one of the major neurotransmitters in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS). The activation of post-synaptic GABAA receptor-chloride channel complex is thought to underlie inhibitory postsynaptic potentials ubiquitously in various CNS regions. GABAA receptors are modulated by convulsant, hypnotic-anticonvulsant, anxiolytic and anxiogenic agents and endogenous agents such as nurosteroids and intracellular calcium, ATP, and cyclic AMP. The function of GABAA receptor in CNS neuron is also affected by some pathophysiological processes, e.g., anoxia. For example, it is currently believed that delayed neuronal death after brain ischemia results from excessive cell excitability and/or loss of inhibition. In the present study, we investigated how the GABA-gated chloride current is affected by anoxic conditions. All experiments were carried out on neurons freshly dissociated from rat CNS by the use of both conventional and nystatin perforated patch recording configurations. The GABA response showed a considerable rundown with time in anoxic condition. The rundown was prevented by adding either ouabain or SPAI-I (Na+-K+ ATPase inhibitor-I), suggesting that the experimental anoxia reduced GABA response by decreasing intracellular ATP synthesis. This result was also confirmed by finding that the direct decrease of intracellular ATP concentration using a conventional whole-cell patch recording mode inhibited the GABA-gated chloride response in mammalian CNS neurons.