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Volume 17, Number 7, Issue of April 1, 1997 pp. 2391-2399
Copyright ©1997 Society for Neuroscience

Expression of the GABA_A Receptor  Subunit Is Selectively Modulated by Depolarization in Cultured Rat Cerebellar Granule Neurons

Laura M. Gault¹ and Ruth E. Siegel²

¹ Departments of Neurosciences and ² Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio 44106-4965

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

MATERIALS AND METHODS

RESULTS

DISCUSSION

FOOTNOTES

REFERENCES

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ABSTRACT

The levels of several GABA_A receptor subunit mRNAs increase as cerebellar granule neurons migrate to their adult positions and receive excitatory mossy fiber input. Despite the temporal similarity of these increases in transcript expression in vivo, studies in cultured granule neurons demonstrated that the subunit mRNAs are differentially regulated. To address the possibility that neuronal activity regulates transcript expression, GABA_A receptor subunit mRNA levels were assessed in cultured granule neurons grown in chemically defined, serum-free medium containing either nondepolarizing (5 mM) or depolarizing (25 mM) KCl concentrations. Whereas the  subunit mRNA was almost undetectable in cultures maintained in nondepolarizing medium, an eightfold increase occurred between days 2 and 4 in cultures grown in depolarizing medium. Furthermore,  subunit transcript expression was reduced by 76 ± 6% when neurons in depolarizing medium were switched into nondepolarizing medium. The importance of depolarization in the initiation and maintenance of subunit transcript expression in granule neurons was selective for the GABA_A receptor  subunit. These changes in transcript expression involved calcium entry through L-type calcium channels. Nifedipine treatment (1 µM) both reduced intracellular calcium and decreased  subunit mRNA expression by 79 ± 4%. Furthermore, inhibition of Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (CaM kinases) by KN-62 (1 µM) also reduced  subunit transcript expression. These studies demonstrate that KCl-induced depolarization, a condition that mimics the effects of neuronal activity, selectively modulates GABA_A receptor  subunit mRNA expression through a pathway involving calcium entry and activation of a CaM kinase.

Key words: GABA_A receptor; receptor subunit mRNAs; rat cerebellar granule neurons; membrane depolarization; neuronal activity; calcium influx; Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM kinase)

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INTRODUCTION

The importance of neuronal activity in initiating and modulating neurotransmitter receptor expression in developing and adult animals has been reported for a number of systems. In the case of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) at the neuromuscular junction, levels of the  subunit mRNA decrease and expression of the  subunit mRNA is initiated after innervation (Witzemann et al., 1989; Hall and Sanes, 1993). Similarly, the postnatal increase in nAChR 7 subunit mRNA in rat sympathetic neurons is largely innervation-dependent (Mandelzys et al., 1994), and expression of this subunit mRNA in culture requires depolarizing conditions (De Koninck and Cooper, 1995). In addition, selective modulation of levels of a subset of nAChRs in chick parasympathetic ciliary ganglion neurons coincides with presynaptic innervation (Levey et al., 1995).

The pattern of GABA_A receptor subunit mRNA expression in cerebellar granule neurons during postnatal ontogeny raises the possibility that neuronal activity also plays a role in regulating this receptor system. Granule neurons express as many as 10 receptor subunit mRNAs, and levels of 6 of these transcripts increase dramatically during the second postnatal week when granule neurons migrate to their adult positions and receive afferent inputs. Whereas 1, 2, 3, and 2 subunit transcripts are detectable at postnatal day 6 (P6), their levels continue to increase once the neurons reach adult positions and presumably receive afferent excitatory mossy fiber innervation (Gambarana et al., 1990, 1991; Laurie et al., 1992). In contrast, the 6 and  subunit transcripts are absent at P6, but become detectable and continue to increase once granule neurons reside in their adult positions (Shivers et al., 1989; Laurie et al., 1992; Zheng et al., 1993; Varecka et al., 1994) (L. Gault and R. Siegel, unpublished observations). Together, these findings raise the possibility that mossy fiber innervation both initiates and modulates GABA_A receptor subunit mRNA expression in cerebellar granule neurons.

Although the similarity in the time course of the increase in these six GABA_A receptor subunit mRNAs in vivo suggests that their expression is governed by common cues, previous studies in cultured rat cerebellar granule neurons indicate that the mRNAs are differentially regulated (Beattie and Siegel, 1993; Behringer et al., 1996). Three distinct patterns of expression were observed. First, levels of the 1 and 6 subunit mRNAs remained constant when cultures are prepared at a relatively early stage (P2) or at a later stage of cerebellar maturation (P10). Second, the mRNAs encoding the 2, 3, and 2 subunits were constant in cultures prepared at P2, P4, or P6, but increased severalfold in cultures prepared at P8 or P10. Finally, the  subunit mRNA exhibited a unique pattern of expression; dramatic increases in transcript levels occurred in cultures prepared at both P2 and P10.

In the studies reported here, the possibility that neuronal depolarization influences one or more of these patterns was investigated. Although it has been suggested that depolarizing conditions can modulate levels of some GABA_A receptor subunit transcripts (Zheng et al., 1994), interpretation of these previous studies is complicated by the presence of serum in the growth medium. To directly determine the importance of depolarization in subunit mRNA expression, we examined levels of the 1, 6, 2, 2, and  subunit mRNAs in a serum-free medium containing either nondepolarizing or depolarizing concentrations of KCl. These studies demonstrate that the  subunit transcript, but not the other GABA_A receptor subunit mRNAs, requires neuronal depolarization both to initiate and maintain expression. Furthermore, an elevation in intracellular calcium (Ca_i) and activation of a CaM kinase pathway mediate the increase in  subunit mRNA expression.

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MATERIALS AND METHODS

Cell culture. Cerebellar granule neurons were prepared for culture from Sprague Dawley rats (Zivic Miller, Zelienople, PA) at postnatal day 10 (P10) as described previously (Beattie and Siegel, 1993; Behringer et al., 1996). The dissociated cells were plated at a density of 2 × 10³ cells/mm² on 24-well tissue culture plates coated with 0.1 mg/ml poly-L-lysine and 5 µg/ml laminin. All cultured cells were maintained in a chemically defined growth medium consisting of Neurobasal medium (Gibco-Bethesda Research Labs, Grand Island, NY) supplemented with B-27 (Gibco-Bethesda Research Labs), 6.0 g/l dextrose, 2 mM glutamine, 0.1 U/ml penicillin, and 0.1 µg/ml steptomycin.

In some cases, the defined medium contained 5 mM KCl (K5 medium), a concentration in the physiological range. Cultured granule neurons maintained in K5 medium adhered to the plates, elaborated processes, and survived for at least 4 d. This finding is consistent with findings reported by other groups using mediums containing 5 mM KCl (Gallo et al., 1987; Vallano et al., 1996). In studies to examine the effects of neuronal depolarization, the defined medium contained 25 mM KCl (K25 medium). Cultured granule neurons maintained in K25 medium exhibited a morphology similar to neurons maintained in K5 medium, but survived for at least 21 d. To examine the effects of serum components, K5 or K25 media were supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) (Biocell, Rancho Dominguez, CA). Cultures maintained in the serum-containing media exhibited a similar morphology and survival as neurons maintained in either media alone.

In every culture condition, nearly all cells exhibited the morphology of granule neurons, a finding consistent with previous reports (Beattie and Siegel, 1993; Behringer et al., 1996). Nonneuronal cell proliferation was suppressed by the addition of 60 µM 5-fluoro-2-deoxyuridine (Sigma, St. Louis, MO) after 2 d. The cultures were fed after 4 d by replacing half of the medium in the wells with fresh growth medium.

The signaling cascades involved in controlling GABA_A receptor subunit mRNA expression were examined using two experimental paradigms. To determine the factors that initiate gene expression, channel blockers or inhibitors were added to the K25 medium at the time of plating. Cultures maintained in these agents were harvested after 4 d in culture. To determine the involvement of a signaling cascade in the maintenance of subunit mRNA expression, cultured granule neurons were grown for 7 d in K25 medium and then switched for 2 d into the same medium containing the indicated concentrations of inhibitors or blockers. The cultures were treated with the following agents at the indicated concentrations: 1 µM tetrodotoxin (TTX) (Sigma), 1 µM nifedipine (Sigma), 45 µM veratridine (K & K Laboratories, Plainview, NY), 1 µM KN-62 (LC Laboratories, Woburn, MA), 1 µM chelerythrine (chel) (LC Laboratories, Woburn, MA), and 1 µM H-89 (LC Laboratories, Woburn, MA). The concentrations of KN-62, chel, and H-89 used in these experiments were close to or in excess of their respective pK_i values of 0.9 µM, 0.66 µM, or 0.048 µM (Chijiwa et al., 1990; Herbert et al., 1990; Tokumitsu et al., 1990). Stock solutions (1 or 10 mM) of each of these agents were prepared according to the manufacturers' instructions in either K5 medium or dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The final concentration of DMSO in the medium was typically 0.1% and had no effect on neuronal morphology or survival.

Measurement of intracellular calcium. Changes in free Ca_i were evaluated using the fluorescent dye fura-2 essentially as described by Grynkiewicz et al. (1985). For these studies, cultured granule neurons were grown on 24 mm acid-washed No. 1 glass coverslips (Fisher, Pittsburgh, PA). The coverslips were glued over a 20 mm hole in the bottom of a 35 mm tissue culture plate using SILASTIC medical adhesive (Dow Corning, Midland, MI). The dishes were UV-irradiated and prepared for culture as described above. Cultured granule neurons maintained for 2 d in K5 medium, K25 medium, or K25 medium containing 1 µM nifedipine were incubated in the same medium with 4 µM fura-2 AM (Molecular Probes, Eugene, OR) for 20 min at 37°C. The cultures were then rinsed three times with fresh medium and incubated an additional 20 min at 37°C. Individual fields were examined at 37°C by phase-contrast microscopy (Zeiss Axiovert 405M, Thornwood, NY) using an oil-immersion 100× Plan-Neofluor objective. The fluorescence intensity at 510 nm was measured with excitation at 350 nm and 380 nm at 5 sec intervals. Images were collected with Image-1 software (Universal Imaging, West Chester, PA) and stored on a Panasonic optical disk for later analysis.

For each experimental condition, images were collected at the indicated excitation wavelengths from at least four separate fields from two or more separate platings. All bipolar cells that morphologically resembled granule neurons were used for analysis, whereas cells that were obviously larger than granule neurons or irregularly shaped were excluded. Typically, only about 10% of the cell population was excluded from the analysis using these criteria. For each plate, background fluorescence was recorded for both excitation wavelengths at the same focal plane from a field that lacked cells. After background subtraction at both excitation wavelengths, the ratio of fluorescence intensity for excitation at 350 nm and 380 nm was calculated. The fluorescence ratio values were determined for the area just inside the boundaries of the cell body, and four separate readings were averaged for each neuron. Higher fluorescence ratio values represent higher levels of Ca_i. Because the distribution of ratio values was skewed toward high values, the nonparametric Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to determine statistical significance.

RNA isolation and PCR. Relative levels of GABA_A receptor subunit mRNAs expressed over time in culture were assessed using a semiquantitative RT-PCR protocol. Total cellular RNA was isolated from 2-4 culture wells by the procedure of Chomczynski and Sacchi (1987) and RT-PCR performed essentially as described previously (Beattie and Siegel, 1993; Behringer et al., 1996). A baseline measurement of GABA_A receptor subunit mRNA levels was determined by harvesting some of the dissociated neurons in guanidine thiocyanate at the time of plating. For RT-PCR analysis, 0.2 µg of RNA was DNase treated and reverse transcribed. Each reaction contained 75 pg of exogenous SP64 bacterial RNA transcribed from the SP64 plasmid (Promega, Madison, WI) to control for variability between samples. PCR buffer containing [³²P]dCTP was added to the reverse transcriptase reaction, layered with mineral oil and subjected to 30 cycles of 95°C for 1 min, 55°C for 30 sec, and 72°C for 45 sec in a Perkin Elmer Cetus 480 (Foster City, CA) thermocycler. The number of PCR cycles for each primer used was in the exponential phase of amplification. PCR products were separated in an 8% nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel and detected by autoradiography. The amount of ³²P incorporated into each PCR product was quantitated by excision and counting of the bands after gel drying. Near each PCR product band, areas of the gel without detectable bands were also excised and counted. This background count was subtracted from the count obtained for each subunit PCR product. Results for each reaction were expressed as a ratio of GABA_A receptor subunit PCR product to SP64 PCR product. Similar patterns of subunit mRNA expression were observed when elongation factor 1, an endogenous transcript, was used instead of the exogenous SP64 RNA as a control for sample variability in the RT-PCR assay (K. Behringer and R. Siegel, unpublished observations).

GABA_A receptor subunit primers were generated to regions of the cDNAs where the sequence diversity is greatest among subunits. The primer sequences are listed from 5 to 3 with (+) being complementary to the noncoding strand and () being complementary to the coding strand: 1(+) = 1410-1429 and 1() = 1501-1520 (Khrestchatisky et al., 1989); 6(+) = 1369-1384, 6() = 1450-1475 (Lüddens et al., 1990); 2(+) = 1808-1831 and 2() = 1882-1905 (Ymer et al., 1989); 2(+) = 1744-1768 and 2() = 1807-1829; and (+) = 394-417 and () = 458-481 (Shivers et al., 1989). In addition, the following primers for the SP64 plasmid (Promega) were added to each reaction: SP64(+) = 234-254 and SP64() = 344-364. The G+C content of each primer was ~50%. The specificity of the subunit primers was confirmed by sequence analysis of the PCR products (Beattie and Siegel, 1993; Behringer et al., 1996).

Statistical analyses. Two methodologies were used to determine the statistical significance of the data. In instances where relative subunit mRNA levels are reported as ratio values, statistical significance was determined using a paired, two-tailed Student's t test. When the data are reported as a percentage of control values, a 95% confidence interval was constructed. The result was considered significant if the interval excluded 100%.

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RESULTS

The initiation of  subunit mRNA expression has a unique requirement for depolarizing conditions Previous studies suggested that increases in GABA_A receptor subunit mRNA expression in cerebellar granule neurons coincide with migration to the internal granule cell layer and synapse formation with afferent fibers (Gambarana et al., 1990, 1991; Laurie et al., 1992). To test the possibility that neuronal activity plays a role in initiating subunit mRNA expression, cultured granule neurons were grown in a chemically defined, serum-free medium containing either a nondepolarizing (5 mM; K5 medium) or depolarizing (25 mM; K25 medium) concentration of potassium chloride (KCl). In the nondepolarizing K5 medium, the mRNAs encoding the 1, 6, 2, and 2 subunits were all easily detectable at 2 or 4 d in culture (Fig. 1). In contrast, the  subunit transcript was barely detectable at these times; in fact, its level was not significantly different from background (p > 0.2). These data suggest that nondepolarizing conditions are sufficient to initiate the expression of the 1, 6, 2, and 2 subunit mRNAs, but not the  subunit mRNA. These findings are consistent with previous observations suggesting that expression of the  subunit transcript is regulated differently from that of other GABA_A receptor subunit mRNAs (Behringer et al., 1996).

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Fig. 1. The  subunit mRNA is almost undetectable in nondepolarizing K5 medium. Autoradiograph of a representative RT-PCR experiment showing GABA_A receptor subunit mRNA expression in cultured granule neurons grown in K5 medium for 2 or 4 d in culture. The mRNAs encoding the 1, 6, 2, and 2 subunits are detectable, whereas the mRNA encoding the  subunit is almost undetectable. Similar results were obtained in more than six experiments.
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To examine whether neuronal depolarization initiates  subunit mRNA expression, levels of this transcript were measured in cultured granule neurons maintained in the depolarizing K25 medium. Whereas  subunit transcript expression was extremely low after 2 d in culture, its level increased more than 10-fold between 2 and 4 d in the depolarizing condition (p < 0.05; Fig. 2A,B). Furthermore, the addition of another depolarizing agent, veratridine (45 µM), to K5 medium also induced an increase in  subunit transcript expression. The time course and magnitude of the increase in the presence of veratridine were comparable to those seen in cultures maintained in K25 medium (data not shown).

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Fig. 2. subunit mRNA expression in K25 medium is comparable to that observed in K25 + FBS. A, Representative autoradiograph from a RT-PCR experiment showing  subunit mRNA expression in cultured granule neurons maintained in either nondepolarizing K5 medium, depolarizing K25 medium or K25 medium containing 10% FBS. B, Quantitative analysis of  subunit mRNA expression in cultured granule neurons maintained in either K5 medium (), K25 medium (), or K25 medium with 10% FBS (). RNA was isolated at the designated times from cultures maintained in each condition.  subunit mRNA levels were assessed by RT-PCR and data were plotted as a ratio of  subunit PCR product to SP64 PCR product versus time in culture as described in Materials and Methods. Each point represents the mean ± SEM of three to five separate experiments. *p < 0.05, in comparison with subunit mRNA level at 2 d in culture.
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The increase in  subunit mRNA levels in K25 medium is similar to that previously observed in cultured granule neurons maintained in medium containing 10% FBS in addition to a depolarizing KCl concentration (Zheng et al., 1994; Behringer et al., 1996). To determine whether factors present in serum could also initiate or modulate  subunit mRNA expression, levels of this subunit mRNA were assessed in cultures maintained in K5 or K25 medium containing 10% FBS. In both K5 and K5 + FBS media, the  subunit mRNA was barely detectable (data not shown). In addition, the time course and magnitude of  subunit transcript expression in the K25 medium was not altered by the addition of 10% FBS (Fig. 2A,B). These results suggest that factors present in serum are neither necessary nor sufficient to initiate an increase in subunit mRNA expression.

Although cultured granule neurons maintained in K5 medium are initially morphologically similar to those grown in K25 medium, neurons in the K5 medium exhibit fewer markers of differentiation and a decrease in long-term survival (Gallo et al., 1987; Balazs et al., 1988; Vallano et al., 1996). To demonstrate that the absence of  subunit transcript expression in the nondepolarizing medium is not a result of a permanent alteration in phenotype or a nonspecific effect on neuronal viability,  subunit mRNA expression was measured in neurons maintained for 2 d in K5 medium and switched to K25 medium for the remainder of the culture period. In these cultures, the level of the  subunit transcript was comparable to control cultures at 3, 6, and 24 h after the change in medium (data not shown). By 2 d after the switch in medium, the level of the subunit transcript was sevenfold higher than in cultures maintained in K5 medium, but it had not yet attained the level expressed in cultures maintained in K25 medium (Fig. 3). After 6 d, the level of this transcript was comparable to that observed in neurons maintained in depolarizing medium for the duration of the culture period. These studies suggest that neurons grown in nondepolarizing medium retain the ability to express the  subunit mRNA. Moreover, the presence of KCl-induced depolarization alone is sufficient to initiate an increase in  subunit transcript expression.

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Fig. 3. KCl-induced depolarization initiates an increase in  subunit mRNA expression.  subunit mRNA expression was analyzed in cultures maintained for 2 days in K5 medium and subsequently switched to K25 medium (hatched bars). Levels of the  subunit mRNA were compared with those obtained in cultures maintained solely in K5 (open bars) or K25 medium (filled bars). Each point represents the mean ± SEM of three separate experiments.
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Continued KCl-induced depolarization is required to maintain elevated levels of  subunit mRNA expression To determine if KCl-induced depolarization is also required to maintain expression of the  subunit transcript, the level of the  subunit mRNA was assessed in cultured granule neurons maintained for 8 d in K25 medium and subsequently switched to K5 medium for 2 d (Fig. 4A,B). The level of the  subunit transcript in switched cultures was 24 ± 6% of that observed in control cultures maintained in K25 medium (p < 0.05). The effect of the switch in medium was specific for the  subunit mRNA. Levels of the 1, 2, and 2 subunit mRNAs were unaffected by the switch in medium. Although the level of the 6 subunit mRNA was 70 ± 6% (p < 0.05), the magnitude of this reduction was much smaller than that seen for the  subunit mRNA. These results suggest that cultured granule neurons require the continued presence of depolarizing conditions to maintain expression of the  subunit mRNA.

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Fig. 4. Depolarizing conditions are required to maintain  subunit mRNA expression. A, A representative autoradiograph of subunit mRNA expression in cultures maintained for 7 d in K25 medium and then switched for 2 d to K5 medium. Levels of expression were compared with control cultures maintained in K25 medium for 9 d. The levels of the , and to a lesser extent the 6, subunit mRNAs decrease when cultures are switched from K25 to K5 medium, but levels of the 1, 2, and 2 subunit mRNAs are not affected. B, Quantitative analysis of subunit mRNA levels. Levels of each transcript in the switched cultures were expressed as a percentage of the subunit mRNA levels in control cultures maintained in K25 medium. *p < 0.05. Results represent the mean ± SEM of three separate experiments.
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Calcium entry is required to initiate and maintain depolarization-induced changes in  subunit mRNA expression Changes in  subunit mRNA expression in depolarizing conditions may result from an alteration in ion fluxes. In particular, maintenance of neurons in depolarizing conditions has been shown to affect gene expression by altering the influx of sodium or calcium (Gallo et al., 1987; Sun et al., 1992). The possibility that sodium entry is involved in initiating  subunit mRNA expression was examined by the addition of 1 µM TTX to K25 medium at the time of plating (Fig. 5A,B). The levels of both the  and 6 subunit mRNAs at day 4 in culture were unaffected by this treatment, suggesting that sodium entry through TTX-sensitive channels does not influence expression of these two subunit mRNAs.

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Fig. 5. subunit mRNA expression depends on calcium influx through L-type calcium channels. Cultured granule neurons were maintained for 4 d in culture in K25 medium containing either 1 µM nifedipine or 1 µM TTX. A, Representative autoradiograph from a RT-PCR experiment showing  and 6 subunit mRNA levels in cultures maintained for 4 d in either K25 medium, or K25 medium containing 1 µM nifedipine or 1 µM TTX. B, Quantitative analysis of subunit mRNA levels. Levels of the  (open bars) and 6 (filled bars) subunit mRNAs in the nifedipine- or TTX-treated cultures were expressed as a percentage of the subunit mRNA levels in control cultures maintained in K25 medium and represent the mean ± SEM of three separate experiments. *p < 0.05.
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Alternatively, depolarization-induced increases in Ca_i may play a role in regulating  subunit mRNA expression. To investigate this possibility, relative levels of free Ca_i in cultured granule neurons maintained for 2 d in depolarizing and nondepolarizing conditions were compared using the fluorescent calcium indicator, fura-2. These studies demonstrated that the fluorescence ratio value of neurons maintained in K25 medium was significantly greater (p < 0.05) than those in K5 medium (Fig. 6A,B). The average fluorescence ratio value of neurons maintained in K25 medium was 0.54 ± 0.01, as compared with 0.31 ± 0.01 for neurons maintained in K5 medium.

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Fig. 6. Cultured granule neurons maintained in depolarizing K25 medium exhibit a persistent elevation in free Ca_i. A, A representative field of fluorescence ratio measurements is shown for cultured granule neurons maintained for 2 d in culture in K5 medium (left), K25 medium (middle), or K25 medium (right) containing 1 µM nifedipine. Similar results were obtained in at least four other fields for each condition in two separate preparations. B, Quantitative analysis of fluorescence ratio values from neurons maintained in K5 medium (n = 257 neurons), K25 medium (n = 245 neurons), or K25 medium containing 1 µM nifedipine (n = 119 neurons). Each point represents the mean ± SEM. *p < 0.05.
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The elevation of Ca_i in cultured granule neurons maintained in depolarizing conditions may reflect calcium entry through a number of voltage-sensitive and ligand-gated channels as well as calcium release from internal stores. Calcium entry through L-type calcium channels occurs in cultured granule neurons (Amico et al., 1995; Randall and Tsien, 1995) and has been implicated in changes in gene expression (Gallo et al., 1987; Murphy et al., 1991). To test the importance of calcium entry through L-type calcium channels in regulating  subunit mRNA expression, depolarization-induced changes in relative levels of free Ca_i and the  subunit transcript were measured in the presence of the L-type calcium channel blocker, nifedipine. When 1 µM nifedipine was added to the K25 medium at the time of plating, the average fluorescence ratio value (0.38 ± 0.01) more closely resembled that of neurons maintained in K5 rather than K25 medium (Fig. 6A,B). A corresponding decrease in  subunit mRNA levels was observed in cultured granule neurons maintained in K25 medium containing 1 µM nifedipine (Fig. 5). In neurons maintained for 4 d in this condition, the level of the  subunit transcript was only about 21 ± 4% of that attained in neurons maintained in K25 medium alone (p < 0.05). In contrast, levels of the 6 subunit mRNA were unaffected by nifedipine.

Additional studies demonstrated that calcium influx through L-type calcium channels is required not only to initiate expression of the  subunit mRNA, but also to maintain its expression. A 61 ± 7% reduction (p < 0.05) in  subunit mRNA expression was noted when cultured granule neurons were maintained for 7 d in K25 medium and subsequently switched to K25 medium containing 1 µM nifedipine (data not shown). Together, these results suggest that calcium entry through L-type calcium channels during KCl-induced depolarization is largely responsible for the initiation and maintenance of  subunit mRNA expression.

Activation of a CaM kinase pathway is required to initiate and maintain  subunit mRNA expression To elucidate the intracellular signaling cascades involved in mediating the increase in  subunit mRNA expression, cells grown in depolarizing medium were treated with specific kinase inhibitors. When 1 µM KN-62, a specific inhibitor of Ca²⁺/calmodulin-dependent protein kinases (Tokumitsu et al., 1990) was added to K25 medium at the time of plating, a 64 ± 9% reduction (p < 0.05) in  subunit mRNA expression was measured 4 d later (data not shown). These results suggest that activation of a CaM kinase pathway is involved in initiation of  subunit mRNA expression.

To determine if the same signaling cascade is involved in maintenance of  subunit mRNA expression, cells grown for 7 d in K25 medium were treated with KN-62 for 2 d (Fig. 7). Inhibition of the CaM kinase pathway with 1 µM KN-62 resulted in a 55 ± 11% decrease (p < 0.05) in the amount of  subunit transcript detected in these cultured neurons. In contrast, levels of the 6 subunit transcript were unaffected by the addition of KN-62. Furthermore, a decrease in  subunit mRNA expression was specific for inhibition of the CaM kinase pathway. Levels of both the  and 6 subunit mRNAs were not changed after the addition of 1 µM chel to inhibit the PKC pathway or 1 µM H-89 to inhibit the PKA pathway. Even 5- to 10-fold higher concentrations of these kinase inhibitors failed to produce changes in levels of the  subunit mRNA (data not shown). Together, these data suggest that activation of a CaM kinase pathway by KCl-induced depolarization is required both to initiate and maintain  subunit mRNA expression.

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Fig. 7. Maintenance of  subunit mRNA expression depends on activation of a CaM kinase pathway. The levels of the  (open bars) and 6 (filled bars) subunit mRNAs were determined in cultured granule neurons maintained for 7 days in K25 medium then switched for 2 d into K25 medium containing 1 µM KN-62, 1 µM H-89, or 1 µM chel. Quantitative analysis of subunit mRNA levels. Values in the treated cultures were expressed as a percentage of the subunit mRNA levels in control cultures maintained in K25 medium and represent the mean ± SEM of five separate experiments. *p < 0.05.
[View Larger Version of this Image (30K GIF file)]

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Although some previous studies have suggested that KN-62 blocks L-type calcium channels (Li et al., 1992), others have reported that KN-62 does not block these channels or alter calcium flux (Hack et al., 1993; De Koninck and Cooper, 1995). To determine whether KN-62 treatment alters Ca_i, relative levels of free Ca_i were measured in cultured granule neurons maintained for 2 d in K25 medium containing 1 µM KN-62. The average fluorescence ratio value was 0.47 ± 0.01 in treated cultures, a value that is not significantly different from that found in neurons maintained in K25 medium alone (p > 0.5). Consistent with this finding, Hack et al. (1993) reported that ⁴⁵Ca²⁺ influx through voltage-sensitive or NMDA-gated channels in cultured cerebellar granule neurons was not altered by KN-62. Thus, the reduction in  subunit mRNA expression on addition of KN-62 results from an inhibition of a CaM kinase pathway rather than an alteration in free Ca_i.

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DISCUSSION

These studies demonstrate that unique signals are required to initiate and maintain expression of the GABA_A receptor  subunit mRNA in cultured cerebellar granule neurons. Whereas expression of several other GABA_A receptor subunit transcripts was initiated in nondepolarizing, serum-free medium, the  subunit mRNA required depolarizing conditions. This selective regulation of the  subunit mRNA is consistent with our previous report that this subunit transcript exhibited a unique pattern of expression in cultured granule neurons (Behringer et al., 1996). In that study, levels of the  subunit mRNA increased severalfold in cultures prepared at both immature (P2) and more mature (P10) stages of cerebellar maturation. The increase in  subunit mRNA expression in cultures prepared at P2 occurs before the observed increase in vivo, raising the possibility that expression of this subunit transcript is prevented at inappropriate times in vivo by an inhibitory cue absent in culture. Alternatively, an inductive factor may be provided in culture. Because this study demonstrates that the  subunit mRNA was barely detectable and did not increase in K5 medium, the first possibility seems unlikely. Instead, the increase in  subunit mRNA expression observed in culture occurs in response to a regulatory cue such as KCl-induced depolarization. Whether this observed increase in expression is caused by increased transcription or stability of the  subunit mRNA remains to be investigated. In addition, it is not yet known whether the level of the  subunit polypeptide changes in parallel with its mRNA.

Previous studies to examine conditions that modulate, rather than initiate, expression of GABA_A receptor subunit mRNAs and other receptor subunit transcripts in the rat cerebellum have also suggested that neuronal depolarization plays a role. In one report, the levels of GABA_A receptor 1 and 5 subunit mRNAs were higher in cultured granule neurons maintained in 25 mM KCl than in 12.5 mM KCl (Harris et al., 1994). Furthermore, exposure of cultured granule neurons to depolarizing conditions induced an increase in the NMDA receptor NR2A and a concomitant decrease in the NR2B subunit mRNAs (Bessho et al., 1994; Resink et al., 1995; Vallano et al., 1996). Changes in levels of these subunit mRNAs in response to depolarizing stimuli paralleled those observed during granule neuron development in situ (Akazawa et al., 1994). These findings, in conjunction with the results reported here, suggest that neuronal activity initiates and modulates expression of more than one receptor phenotype during cerebellar differentiation.

Because cultured granule neurons maintained in nondepolarizing medium appear less differentiated than those in depolarizing conditions (Balazs et al., 1988), the importance of cellular maturation in the onset of  subunit expression was examined. Our studies show that the absence of  subunit mRNA expression in K5 medium does not result from an irreversible effect on differentiation or a nonspecific effect on cell health. In fact, the maximal level of the  subunit mRNA in cultures switched from K5 to K25 medium was indistinguishable from that in cultures maintained in K25 medium for the duration of the experiment. Moreover, even after the neurons have undergone extensive KCl-induced differentiation in culture, they retain the requirement for depolarization to maintain  subunit mRNA expression. Thus, the effect of KCl-induced depolarization may be to activate specific intracellular signaling pathways that control  subunit transcript expression rather than to promote neuronal differentiation.

Our studies suggest that one step in the pathway mediating  subunit transcript expression results from a depolarization-induced elevation in Ca_i. A reduction in Ca_i in nifedipine-treated cultures is accompanied by a lower level of  subunit mRNA expression, suggesting that calcium entry through L-type calcium channels plays a major role in controlling  subunit transcript expression. Recent studies have indicated that distinct intracellular signaling cascades are activated in response to calcium influx through different channel types (Gallin and Greenberg, 1995; Ghosh and Greenberg, 1995). Although our results suggest that calcium entry through L-type calcium channels is important, it is unlikely that granule neurons possess an absolute dependence on this route of entry. In fact, the sustained, large elevation in Ca_i observed in depolarizing medium is probably sufficient to activate many calcium-dependent processes, eliminating the ability of the neuron to distinguish a specific pathway of calcium entry. Furthermore, because the Ca_i and  subunit mRNA levels in nifedipine-treated cultures are still somewhat greater than those observed in K5 medium, the possibility that  subunit transcript expression involves other calcium-dependent or -independent mechanisms cannot be eliminated.

Although we have identified several crucial steps involved in  subunit mRNA expression, the exact sequence of events remains unknown. Neuronal depolarization, an elevation in free Ca_i and activation of a CaM kinase pathway all play a role in initiation and maintenance of  subunit mRNA expression. The mechanism by which CaM kinase activation elevates  subunit mRNA levels may occur through translocation to the nucleus (Jensen et al., 1991; Srinivasan et al., 1994) and activation of transcription or more indirectly by phosphorylation of transcription factors (Wegner et al., 1992). Alternatively, CaM kinase activation may affect immediate early genes (Bading et al., 1993; Enslen and Soderling, 1994; Ghosh and Greenberg, 1995) and initiate a series of events that ultimately includes transcription of the  subunit mRNA. In support of this latter possibility, the  subunit gene promoter contains several AP1 binding elements that may be involved in mediating this effect (Motejlek et al., 1994). In any event, because the increase in  subunit transcript levels in depolarizing conditions requires several days, a cascade of events, possibly including de novo protein synthesis, is involved. Whether each of these crucial events occurs in series and what other regulatory molecules are involved remains to be elucidated.

Although this study has indicated that CaM kinase activation is required to initiate and maintain  subunit mRNA expression, it has not defined which CaM kinase isoform mediates these effects. CaM KII and CaM KIV are expressed abundantly in cerebellar granule neurons and both are inhibited by the concentration of KN-62 used in these studies (Tokumitsu et al., 1990; Enslen et al., 1994). Because CaM KII is a ubiquitous kinase involved in many cellular processes (Hanson and Schulman, 1992; Schulman, 1993), it would be difficult to rule out its involvement in  subunit mRNA expression. On the other hand, because CaM KIV is first detectable in the internal granule cell layer of the cerebellum just before the expression of the  subunit mRNA (Ohmstede et al., 1989; Jensen et al., 1991), it may also be involved in this process. Furthermore, the spatial expression pattern of CaM KIV in the CNS (Ohmstede et al., 1989) largely overlaps that of the  subunit mRNA (Shivers et al., 1989).

These studies have identified a crucial role of neuronal depolarization in the initiation and maintenance of  subunit mRNA expression, but the signal(s) that regulate expression of other GABA_A receptor subunit mRNAs in cerebellar granule neurons remain largely unknown. That the 1, 6, 2, and 2 subunit mRNAs are detectable in nondepolarizing K5 medium suggests that initiation of expression for these subunit mRNAs can occur in the absence of depolarizing conditions or serum factors. It is likely, however, that levels of these subunit mRNAs are regulated in response to local environmental cues including neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, or neurotrophins. In fact, several studies have suggested that glutamate and GABA are involved in the modulation of other GABA_A receptor subunit mRNA levels (Memo et al., 1991; Kim et al., 1993; Harris et al., 1994). The involvement of a cAMP signaling pathway in the regulation of 1 and 6 subunit polypeptide expression has also recently been reported (Thompson et al., 1996), but a physiological activator of this pathway has not yet been identified. Further studies using the defined medium system may demonstrate a role for one or more of these factors in the regulation of GABA_A receptor subunit mRNA expression.

The apparent requirement of cultured granule neurons for depolarizing conditions to express the  subunit mRNA suggests that neuronal depolarization after synaptic activity in vivo initiates transcript expression. Initiation of  subunit mRNA expression occurs in vivo by postnatal day 12, when the granule neurons have migrated to adult positions in the internal granule cell layer (Shivers et al., 1989; Laurie et al., 1992) and have presumably formed synaptic contact with afferent glutamatergic mossy fibers (Altman, 1972). Thus, activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors on the granule neurons by glutamate released from mossy fiber afferents may contribute to the elevation in Ca_i that is a crucial step in  subunit mRNA expression.

In addition to the initiation of  subunit mRNA expression after innervation, modulation of its expression may also occur in response to excitatory mossy fiber activity. Thus, neurons could integrate a pattern of ongoing synaptic activity and modify expression of this subunit mRNA. Earlier studies have suggested that the  subunit mRNA is expressed primarily in small interneurons that limit the spread of excitatory impulses (Shivers et al., 1989) and that receptors containing the  subunit mRNA display high affinity GABA (Benke et al., 1991) and muscimol binding (Quirk et al., 1995). A selective alteration in  subunit mRNA and/or polypeptide levels in response to neuronal activity may serve a homeostatic function to limit the spread of excitatory impulses. Additional studies in both cultured granule neurons and the intact cerebellum are necessary to investigate the role of synaptic activity in the regulation of  subunit mRNA expression.

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FOOTNOTES

Received Oct. 29, 1996; revised Jan. 16, 1997; accepted Jan. 21, 1997.

  

This work was supported by grants from National Institutes of Health (NIH) (NS31266 and NS34317) to R.E.S. L.M.G. was supported in part by an NIH Medical Scientist Training Program grant (5-T32GM07250-21). We thank Drs. David Friel and Susan Burden-Gulley for assistance with calcium imaging, Dr. Hegang Chen for advice concerning the statistical analyses, and Drs. Evan Deneris, David Friel, and Bryan Roth for helpful comments on the manuscript.

Correspondence should be addressed to Ruth E. Siegel, Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106-4965.

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