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The Journal of Neuroscience, August 19, 2009, 29(33):10416-10423; doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1670-09.2009

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Cellular/Molecular
Intracellular Chloride Ions Regulate the Time Course of GABA-Mediated Inhibitory Synaptic Transmission

Catriona M. Houston, Damian P. Bright, Lucia G. Sivilotti, Marco Beato, ^* and Trevor G. Smart ^*

Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom

Correspondence should be addressed to Prof. Trevor G. Smart, Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK. Email: t.smart{at}ucl.ac.uk

The time-dependent integration of excitatory and inhibitory synaptic currents is an important process for shaping the input–output profiles of individual excitable cells, and therefore the activity of neuronal networks. Here, we show that the decay time course of GABAergic inhibitory synaptic currents is considerably faster when recorded with physiological internal Cl^– concentrations than with symmetrical Cl^– solutions. This effect of intracellular Cl^– is due to a direct modulation of the GABA_A receptor that is independent of the net direction of current flow through the ion channel. As a consequence, the time window during which GABAergic inhibition can counteract coincident excitatory inputs is much shorter, under physiological conditions, than that previously measured using high internal Cl^–. This is expected to have implications for neuronal network excitability and neurodevelopment, and for our understanding of pathological conditions, such as epilepsy and chronic pain, where intracellular Cl^– concentrations can be altered.

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Received April 7, 2009; revised June 2, 2009; accepted June 5, 2009.

Correspondence should be addressed to Prof. Trevor G. Smart, Department of Neuroscience, Physiology & Pharmacology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK. Email: t.smart{at}ucl.ac.uk

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