QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

HOME  |   SEARCH  |   ARCHIVE  |   SUBSCRIBE  |   CONTACT  |   HELP

The Journal of Neuroscience, October 13, 2004, 24(41):8961-8974; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2016-04.2004

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Web of Science (33) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Ye, J.-H. Articles by Zhang, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Ye, J.-H. Articles by Zhang, J.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Cellular/Molecular
Presynaptic Glycine Receptors on GABAergic Terminals Facilitate Discharge of Dopaminergic Neurons in Ventral Tegmental Area

Jiang-Hong Ye,¹ Fushun Wang,¹ Kresimir Krnjevi,² Weizhen Wang,³ Zhi-Gang Xiong,³ and Jingli Zhang¹

¹Departments of Anesthesiology, Pharmacology, and Physiology, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New Jersey 07103, ²Physiology Department, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec H3G 1Y6 Canada, and ³Robert S. Dow Neurobiology Laboratories, Legacy Research, Portland, Oregon 97232

GABA-mediated postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) were recorded from dopaminergic (DA) neurons of the ventral tegmental area (VTA) of rats, in acute brain slices, and from enzymatically or mechanically dissociated neurons. In young rats (3-10 d of age), where GABA is excitatory, glycine (1-3 µM) and taurine (10-30 µM) increased the amplitude of evoked IPSCs (eIPSCs) and the frequency of spontaneous IPSCs (sIPSCs) but had minimal postsynaptic effects. Strychnine (1 µM) blocked the action of glycine; when applied alone, it reduced the amplitude of eIPSCs and the frequency of sIPSCs, indicating a tonic facilitation of GABAergic excitation by some endogenous glycine agonist(s). In medium containing no Ca²⁺, or with Cd²⁺ or tetrodotoxin added, the amplitude and especially the frequency of sIPSCs greatly diminished. In many cells, glycine had no effect on remaining miniature IPSCs, suggesting a preterminal site of glycine receptors (GlyRs). Fura-2 fluorescent imaging showed a glycine-induced increase of [Ca²⁺] in nerve terminals (on DA neurons), which was suppressed by strychnine or 3 µM -conotoxin MVIIA. Therefore, the presynaptic GlyR-mediated facilitation of GABAergic transmission seems to be mediated by N- and/or P/Q-type Ca²⁺ channels. In older rats (22-30 d of age), where GABA causes inhibition, the effect of strychnine on GABAergic IPSCs was reversed to facilitation, indicating a tonic glycinergic inhibition of GABA release. Furthermore, glycine (1-3 µM) reduced the amplitude of eIPSCs and the frequency of sIPSCs. Hence, the overall effect of the presynaptic action of glycine is to enhance the firing of DA cells, both in very young and older rats.

Key words: IPSCs; synaptic transmission; calcium channels; whole-cell patch clamp; strychnine; taurine; mesolimbic system

---

Received March 9, 2004; revised August 16, 2004; accepted August 16, 2004.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				K.#3.;i. Krnjevi\#263; When and why amino acids? J. Physiol., January 1, 2010; 588(1): 33 - 44. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Xiao, C. Zhou, K. Li, D. L. Davies, and J. H. Ye Purinergic Type 2 Receptors at GABAergic Synapses on Ventral Tegmental Area Dopamine Neurons Are Targets for Ethanol Action J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., October 1, 2008; 327(1): 196 - 205. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K.-Y. Li, C. Xiao, M. Xiong, E. Delphin, and J.-H. Ye Nanomolar Propofol Stimulates Glutamate Transmission to Dopamine Neurons: A Possible Mechanism of Abuse Potential? J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., April 1, 2008; 325(1): 165 - 174. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. F. Trigo, M. Chat, and A. Marty Enhancement of GABA Release through Endogenous Activation of Axonal GABAA Receptors in Juvenile Cerebellum J. Neurosci., November 14, 2007; 27(46): 12452 - 12463. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Ben-Ari, J.-L. Gaiarsa, R. Tyzio, and R. Khazipov GABA: A Pioneer Transmitter That Excites Immature Neurons and Generates Primitive Oscillations Physiol Rev, October 1, 2007; 87(4): 1215 - 1284. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Xiao, C. Zhou, K. Li, and J.-H. Ye Presynaptic GABAA receptors facilitate GABAergic transmission to dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area of young rats J. Physiol., May 1, 2007; 580(3): 731 - 743. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. B. Margolis, H. Lock, G. O. Hjelmstad, and H. L. Fields The ventral tegmental area revisited: is there an electrophysiological marker for dopaminergic neurons? J. Physiol., December 15, 2006; 577(3): 907 - 924. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				C. Zhou, C. Xiao, J. J. McArdle, and J. H. Ye Mefloquine Enhances Nigral {gamma}-Aminobutyric Acid Release via Inhibition of Cholinesterase J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., June 1, 2006; 317(3): 1155 - 1160. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				W. Song, S. C. Chattipakorn, and L. L. McMahon Glycine-Gated Chloride Channels Depress Synaptic Transmission in Rat Hippocampus J Neurophysiol, April 1, 2006; 95(4): 2366 - 2379. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Mejia-Gervacio and A. Marty Control of interneurone firing pattern by axonal autoreceptors in the juvenile rat cerebellum J. Physiol., February 15, 2006; 571(1): 43 - 55. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				F. Wang, C. Xiao, and J. H. Ye Taurine activates excitatory non-synaptic glycine receptors on dopamine neurones in ventral tegmental area of young rats J. Physiol., June 1, 2005; 565(2): 503 - 516. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home  |   Search  |   Archive  |   Subscribe  |   Contact  |   Help