Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 14, 2800-2808, Copyright © 1994 by Society for Neuroscience
Omega-conotoxin sensitivity and presynaptic inhibition of glutamatergic sensory neurotransmission in vitro
W Gruner and LR Silva
Department of Physiology, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02111.
Synaptic transmission between embryonic chick dorsal root ganglion (DRG)
neurons and spinal cord neurons was studied in dissociated cell culture.
Stimulation of DRG neurons evoked monosynaptic and polysynaptic excitatory
responses in the spinal neurons. These responses could be reversibly
blocked by application of 6-cyano-7- nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (a
selective non-NMDA receptor antagonist) and irreversibly eliminated through
the presynaptic action of omega- conotoxin GVIA (a selective N-type calcium
channel antagonist). As N- type calcium channels in DRG neuron somata are
targets for modulation via GABAB receptors, we tested the role of these
receptors as regulators of synaptic transmission. Baclofen (a selective
GABAB receptor agonist) reversibly inhibited synaptic transmission via a
presynaptic, pertussis toxin-sensitive mechanism; CGP 35348 (a selective
GABAB receptor antagonist) blocked the actions of baclofen. Taken together,
these results demonstrate that N-type calcium channels play a dominant role
in glutamatergic sensory neurotransmission. They suggest, in addition, that
modulation of N-channel activity may underlie, at least in part,
presynaptic inhibition of synaptic transmission between DRG neurons and
their targets in the intact spinal cord.