Articles

GABAB Receptor-Mediated Inhibition of Tetrodotoxin-Resistant GABA Release in Rodent Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Cells

Wolfgang Jarolimek and Ulrich Misgeld
Journal of Neuroscience 1 February 1997, 17 (3) 1025-1032; https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.17-03-01025.1997

Abstract

Tight-seal whole-cell recordings from CA1 pyramidal cells of rodent hippocampus were performed to study GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition of tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant IPSCs. IPSCs were recorded in the presence of TTX and glutamate receptor antagonists. (R)-(−)-baclofen reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs by a presynaptic action. The inhibition by (R)-(−)-baclofen was concentration-dependent, was not mimicked by the less effective enantiomer (S)-(+)-baclofen, and was blocked by the GABAB receptor antagonist CGP 55845A, suggesting a specific effect on GABAB receptors. The inhibition persisted in the presence of the Ca2+ channel blocker Cd2+. There was no requirement for an activation of K+conductances by (R)-(−)-baclofen, because the inhibition of TTX-resistant IPSCs persisted in Ba2+ and Cd2+. Because the time courses of TTX-resistant IPSCs were not changed by (R)-(−)-baclofen, there was no evidence for a selective inhibition of quantal release from a subgroup of GABAergic terminals. (R)-(−)-baclofen reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs in guinea pigs and Wistar rats, whereas the inhibition was much smaller in Sprague Dawley rats. In Cd2+ and Ba2+, β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate and forskolin enhanced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs. Only β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate reduced the inhibition by (R)-(−)-baclofen. We conclude that GABABreceptors inhibit TTX-resistant GABA release through a mechanism independent from the well known effects on Ca2+ or K+ channels. The inhibition of quantal GABA release can be reduced by an activator of protein kinase C.

Synaptically released GABA may activate presynaptic GABAB receptors that reduce subsequent GABA release. In pharmacological studies, the selective GABABagonist baclofen potently reduces GABA release in various preparations (for review, see Misgeld et al., 1995).

Several mechanisms are presently discussed for the GABABreceptor-mediated autoinhibition. The issue of whether inhibition of GABA release by baclofen occurs independently of inhibition of Ca2+ influx or activation of K+ conductance at the nerve terminals remains controversial. So far, no effects of baclofen on spontaneous tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant IPSCs have been detected in CA1 pyramidal cells in rat hippocampal slices (Cohen et al., 1992; Doze et al., 1995) or in CA3 pyramidal cells in organotypic slice cultures from rat (Scanziani et al., 1992). In the latter preparation, however, baclofen strongly reduces TTX-resistant EPSCs (Scanziani et al., 1992). On the other hand, in cultured rat midbrain neurons, baclofen reduces the frequency of both TTX-resistant IPSCs and EPSCs (Jarolimek and Misgeld, 1992). Furthermore, baclofen inhibits TTX-resistant IPSCs in thalamic slices (Ulrich and Huguenard, 1996).

A selective effect of baclofen on TTX-resistant EPSCs would suggest that GABA and glutamate release are differentially regulated by GABAB receptors (Thompson et al., 1993). Quantal GABA and glutamate release are regulated by various G-protein-coupled receptors in the hippocampus (Cohen et al., 1992; Scanziani et al., 1992, 1995;Scholz and Miller, 1992; Rekling, 1993; Thompson et al., 1993; Bijak and Misgeld, 1995; Lupica, 1995). Acetylcholine, for example, reduces both GABA and glutamate release (cf. Thompson et al., 1993; Scanziani et al., 1995), suggesting that a similar modulation of release can exist at both types of terminals. For an understanding of the regulation of GABA release and of the functional role of presynaptic GABAB receptors in the mammalian brain, it is important therefore to clarify the action of GABAB receptors on quantal GABA release.

In the course of experiments on GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition in guinea pig hippocampal slices, we surprisingly observed that (R)-(−)-baclofen reduced the frequency of IPSCs recorded in TTX and hence studied this effect in more detail. Because previous reports did not observe a baclofen-mediated inhibition of TTX-resistant IPSCs in CA1 neurons of rats (Cohen et al., 1992; Doze et al., 1995), we examined apparent discrepancies between our results and previous work.

Parts of this work have been published previously in abstract form (Jarolimek and Misgeld, 1996).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The procedure for preparation and maintenance of hippocampal slices followed previously described methods (Misgeld et al., 1979). Guinea pigs (200–400 gm) were 6–9 weeks old; Wistar and Sprague Dawley rats (20–40 gm) were 2–3 weeks old. Slices were incubated in a solution containing (in mm): 127 NaCl, 5 KCl, 1.3 MgSO4, 1.25 KH2PO4, 2.5 CaCl2, 26 NaHCO3, 10 glucose.

Patch-clamp recordings. Whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were made from CA1 pyramidal cells visualized through an upright microscope equipped with infrared light and differential interference optics (Stuart et al., 1993). Recordings were performed at room temperature (20–22°C). Slices were perfused at a rate of ∼1.5 ml/min with a solution containing (in mm): 130 NaCl, 2 KCl, 1.3 MgSO4, 1.25 KH2PO4, 2.5 CaCl2, 26 NaHCO3, 10 glucose, pH 7.35. BaCl2 (1 mm) was used in some experiments to block K+ conductances. To avoid precipitation, MgCl2 was substituted for MgSO4, KH2PO4 was omitted, and KCl was increased to 3.25 mm to keep [K+] constant. All bath solutions were bubbled continuously with a mixture of 95% O2/5% CO2. Recordings were obtained in the presence of the AMPA receptor antagonist 6-cyano-7-nitroquinoxaline-2,3-dione (CNQX; 10 μm), the NMDA receptor antagonist CGP37849 (1 μm), and TTX (1 μm). Cd2+ was used at a concentration of 100 μm to block Ca2+ currents. In fact, voltage steps from −65 to 0 mV did not elicit any Na+ or Ca2+ current (n = 4). The nomenclature of baclofen in this paper follows that used in the chemical literature (cf. Froestl et al., 1995). The GABAB antagonist CGP 55845A, (S)-(+)-baclofen, and (R)-(−)-baclofen were kind gifts of Ciba Geigy, Switzerland. (R)-(−)-baclofen at a concentration of 10 μmwas used throughout the study, except for the determination of concentration–response relationships.

Recording pipettes were filled with (in mm): 130 CsCl, 10 NaCl, 0.25 CaCl2, 5 EGTA, 10 HEPES, 10 glucose, 4 Mg2+-ATP, 5 QX-314. Resistance to bath was 4–6 MΩ before seal formation. QX-314 was included in the patch pipette solution to block GABAB receptor-activated K+ channels (Nathan et al., 1990). To allow equilibration between the pipette solution and the cell, recording of TTX-resistant IPSCs was started 10–15 min after rupturing the membrane. Once equilibrium was achieved, even large concentrations of (R)-(−)-baclofen did not activate a K+ current. Membrane currents were measured with a discontinuous single-electrode voltage-clamp amplifier (npi, Tamm, Germany) at a holding potential of −65 mV. All drugs were bath-applied from a wide-bore pipette used as a common outlet for different solutions. Because the pipette was positioned close to the slice and the chamber volume was small (∼400 μl), a complete exchange of the external solution took <30 sec. All inorganic salts were of analytical grade from Merck (Darmstadt, Germany). All drugs, except CNQX (Tocris Cookson, Bristol, England) and TTX and QX-314 (Biotrend, Köln, Germany), were from Sigma (Deisenhofen, Germany)

Data acquisition and analysis. Spontaneous synaptic currents were filtered at 1.3–2.0 kHz with a 4-pole Bessel filter, sampled between 2 and 10 kHz using pClamp software (Axon Instruments, Foster City, CA), and stored additionally on a DAT recorder. Spontaneous synaptic currents were detected by a program written in our laboratory. The program detects an event if the difference between a “running average” (data averaged for 2 msec) and data points 2 msec later exceeds a given threshold (8–14 pA). The program searches for the data point for which the difference from the baseline is maximal, and no further increase in the difference is detectable within a certain time period (usually set to 2 msec). This allows the exclusion of local maxima that arise from noise fluctuations. Events that are superimposed but have a latency of >2 msec were detected and measured separately. Superposition of events, however, was rare. Even in cells in which TTX-resistant IPSCs occurred at a high frequency (7 Hz), <10% of the events had a peak-to-peak difference of 20 msec or less (n = 5 cells). The amplitude of an event is calculated as the difference between the peak value (average of 1.0 msec of data starting from the largest deflection) and the baseline (average of 2 msec of data preceding the first deflection from baseline). Each event was inspected visually before being accepted. The 10–90% rise time was the time difference between two data points closest in amplitude to the value calculated by adding or subtracting 10% of the event amplitude from the baseline or peak, respectively. The resulting list of event amplitudes, times, and rise times was used for constructing frequency and amplitude histograms. Events chosen for analysis of kinetic parameters arose from baseline without an inflection during the rising phase, and no additional event occurred during the decay phase. For fitting model exponentials to the decay phase of spontaneous currents, the simplex (mono-exponential) or the Chebychev (double-exponential) algorithms of the pClamp software were used. To decide whether a mono- or double-exponential function provided a better fit for a given decay phase, all decay phases were fitted with a double-exponential function. The criteria for a fit being mono-exponential were that the faster decay time constant (τ1) differed from the slower decay time constant (τ2) by <10%, or the amplitude coefficient of τ2 was <15% of the coefficient of τ1.

Drug effects were calculated as changes in the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs. The frequency was determined from the number of events within 60–180 sec epochs before the drug application (control), 1 or 2 min (for baclofen) or >4 min (for all other treatments) after commencement of drug application, and 7–10 min after start of wash (recovery). Cumulative amplitude or frequency distributions were compared with the Kolmogoroff–Smirnoff test. Two distributions were considered to be significantly different when p < 0.01. The paired Student’s t test was used to determine statistically significant changes in kinetic parameters. Numerical values are given as mean ± SD when data are derived from a given cell. Data from several cells are presented as mean ± SEM.

RESULTS

In the presence of TTX (1 μm) and glutamate receptor antagonists, spontaneous synaptic inward currents were recorded at a holding potential of −65 mV in CA1 pyramidal cells of guinea pig hippocampal slices (Fig. 1A). Because of their sensitivity to the GABAA antagonists bicuculline or picrotoxin (20 μm; n = 4), these currents were TTX-resistant IPSCs. Bath-applied (R)-(−)-baclofen reversibly inhibited TTX-resistant IPSCs (Fig. 1A). (R)-(−)-baclofen (10 μm) reduced the frequency by 50% on average but did not affect the amplitude distribution of TTX-resistant IPSCs (Fig.1B, Table 1), suggesting a presynaptic reduction of transmitter release. The frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs was reduced by (R)-(−)-baclofen in a concentration-dependent manner (Fig. 1C). The EC50 calculated from the Hill equation was 1.8 μm. Ten micromolar (R)-(−)-baclofen was an almost saturating concentration (Fig. 1C) and hence was used in all further experiments.

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.

Effect of (R)-(−)-baclofen on TTX-resistant IPSCs. A, Eight consecutive traces (2 sec each) showing TTX-resistant IPSCs before (left), 1 min after start of (R)-(−)-baclofen application (middle), and 7 min after commencing wash (right). B, Cumulative amplitude (B1) and frequency (B2) distributions are plotted for control, (R)-(−)-baclofen effect, and wash. The amplitude distributions were unchanged. The frequency distribution was shifted to the right by (R)-(−)-baclofen. The number of events used for the cumulative plots was 495 for control, 232 during (R)-(−)-baclofen, and 445 during wash.C, Concentration-dependent reduction of the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs by (R)-(−)-baclofen. Effects were calculated as the ratio (expressed in percent) of the frequency in the presence of a given (R)-(−)-baclofen concentration to the mean frequency before and after (R)-(−)-baclofen application. Squares are mean values from 5–14 cells for each concentration. Error bars represent SEM. The solid line is a fit (least-square method) to the Hill function, assuming a Hill coefficient of 1.0 and a maximal reduction of the frequency to 45% of the control. The calculated EC50 is 1.78 μm. D, Block of the (R)-(−)-baclofen effect by a high-affinity GABAB antagonist (CGP 55845A). The plot of the sum of the amplitudes sampled for 20 sec against time shows that (R)-(−)-baclofen inhibited TTX-resistant IPSCs. The effect was blocked by the GABAB antagonist CGP55845A. The antagonist by itself had no effect. Horizontal barsindicate the drug application periods.

View this table:
Table 1.

Effects of baclofen and other agents on TTX-resistant IPSCs

The (R)-(−)-baclofen-induced inhibition of TTX-resistant IPSCs was a GABAB receptor-mediated effect. The less potent enantiomer of baclofen (S)-(+)-baclofen (10 μm) did not reduce the frequency or amplitude of TTX-resistant IPSCs (Table 1). Furthermore, the (R)-(−)-baclofen-mediated inhibition of TTX-resistant IPSCs was fully antagonized by the high-affinity GABAB antagonist CGP55845A (Fig. 1D, Table 1). CGP55845A itself did not change the frequency or amplitude distributions of TTX-resistant IPSCs (Table 1), indicating that GABAB receptors were not activated tonically by quantal GABA release.

(R)-(−)-baclofen effects are independent of Ca2+ and K+ conductances

In a recent study on rat hippocampal CA1 neurons, baclofen reduced TTX-resistant IPSCs recorded in 20 mm extracellular [K+] ([K+]o) but did not affect TTX-resistant IPSCs in 5 mm [K+]o(Doze et al., 1995). The inhibition of TTX-resistant IPSCs in high [K+]o was likely caused by an inhibition of Ca2+ influx into depolarized terminals, because Cd2+ occluded the effect of baclofen. Cd2+ (100 μm) also reduced the amplitude of TTX-resistant IPSCs recorded at low [K+]o in slices [Llano and Gerschenfeld, 1993; Doze et al., 1995; this study (Table 1)]. In addition, we observed an apparent reduction in frequency that may have resulted, however, from a loss of events that became too small to detect. To exclude an inhibition of Ca2+ influx as a possible mechanism for a diminution of TTX-resistant IPSCs, we applied a high concentration of Cd2+ (100 μm). Under this condition, (R)-(−)-baclofen still inhibited TTX-resistant IPSCs (Fig. 2A) in all cells (7 of 7). The inhibition was reversible on washout (Fig.2A). As in control, (R)-(−)-baclofen reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs in Cd2+, without an effect on the amplitude distribution (Fig.2B). The effect of (R)-(−)-baclofen on TTX-resistant IPSCs was quantitatively similar in the presence and absence of Cd2+ (Table 1). Thus, (R)-(−)-baclofen reduces quantal GABA release by a mechanism independent of Ca2+ influx through Cd2+-sensitive Ca2+ channels.

Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.

(R)-(−)-baclofen-induced reduction of the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs in the presence of Cd2+. A, Display of data as in Figure1A, B. (R)-(−)-baclofen reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs in 100 μmCd2+. The effect of (R)-(−)-baclofen was fully reversible. B, (R)-(−)-baclofen did not affect the amplitude of TTX-resistant IPSCs (B1) but reduced their frequency (B2). The number of events used for the cumulative plots was 309 for control, 126 during (R)-(−)-baclofen, and 296 for recovery.

Despite the presence of QX-314 and Cs+ in the patch pipette so that no change in somatic K+ conductance was visible, a K+ conductance increase in the dendrites not detected by a somatic recording electrode might have contributed to the inhibition by (R)-(−)-baclofen. To exclude a postsynaptic GABAB receptor-mediated K+ conductance increase, the K+ channel blocker Ba2+ (1 mm) was used. Because Ba2+ is also a charge carrier for voltage-activated Ca2+ channels, Cd2+ (100 μm) was also applied. In the presence of Ba2+ and Cd2+, (R)-(−)-baclofen still reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs, and the magnitude of the reduction was similar to the effect observed in the absence of the channel blockers (Table 1). Again, there was no significant change in the amplitude of TTX-resistant IPSCs (Table 1). Thus, (R)-(−)-baclofen does not reduce quantal GABA release by a postsynaptic mechanism.

Inhibition of TTX-resistant IPSCs by GABAB receptors does not change their kinetics

In CA1 neurons of rat hippocampal slices, evoked IPSCs with a slow decay are more sensitive to baclofen than rapidly decaying IPSCs (Pearce et al., 1995). To determine whether (R)-(−)-baclofen affects only a subpopulation of TTX-resistant IPSCs, we analyzed their kinetic parameters in the absence and presence of (R)-(−)-baclofen. In rat hippocampal CA1 neurons, the decay of electrically evoked IPSCs has been fitted with a mono-exponential (Roepstorff and Lambert, 1994) or double-exponential function (Pearce, 1993). In guinea pigs, a mono-exponential function fitted well the decay phase of most TTX-resistant IPSCs (Fig. 3A, inset). The mean τ value in control solution (15.2 ± 2.0 msec; 5 cells) was not significantly different from the mean τ value in the presence of (R)-(−)-baclofen (16.2 ± 2.2 msec; p> 0.1) (Fig. 3A). The distribution of τ was unchanged by (R)-(−)-baclofen, and there was no correlation between τ and the amplitude of individual events in the absence or presence of (R)-(−)-baclofen (Fig. 3C). A detailed analysis of the fits revealed that the decay phase of a portion of TTX-resistant IPSCs was better fitted by a double-exponential function. The fraction of TTX-resistant IPSCs with a double-exponential decay was similar in the presence and absence of (R)-(−)-baclofen (0.36 ± 0.11, 0.34 ± 0.04; n = 5). The mean τ values for mono-exponential fits (control, 14.6 ± 2.0 msec; (R)-(−)-baclofen, 16.0 ± 2.4 msec; p> 0.1) and τ1 and τ2 values for double-exponential fits were also not significantly different (control: τ1, 5.4 ± 0.5 msec, τ2, 26.0 ± 2.7 msec; (R)-(−)-baclofen: τ1, 5.8 ± 0.4 msec, τ2, 26.6 ± 2.3 msec). Furthermore, the rise time of TTX-resistant IPSCs was unaffected by (R)-(−)-baclofen. The mean rise time (10–90%) in control (1.35 ± 0.06 msec; n = 5 cells) was similar to the value in the presence of (R)-(−)-baclofen (1.40 ± 0.06 msec; p > 0.1) when measured in the same cells. Rise time distributions in both conditions were indistinguishable (Fig.3B), and there was also no correlation between the rise time and the amplitude of single events in the presence of (R)-(−)-baclofen (Fig. 3D). The analysis of rise time and decay time constants did not provide any evidence for the existence of groups of TTX-resistant IPSCs with a differential sensitivity to (R)-(−)-baclofen.

Fig. 3.
Fig. 3.

Kinetics of TTX-resistant IPSCs in (R)-(−)-baclofen. A, Distributions of the mono-exponential decay time constant τ in control solution (mean ± SD, 21.5 ± 7.0 msec; n = 177) and in the presence of (R)-(−)-baclofen (19.5 ± 6.4 msec; n = 99) were not significantly different (p > 0.1, paired Student’st test), whereas the frequency was reduced.Inset shows a mono-exponential fit (time constant, τ, 18.06 msec; amplitude coefficient, A, 26.8). Calibration: 5 pA, 20 msec. White and stippled bars are control data; black bars represent data obtained in (R)-(−)-baclofen. B, Distribution of the rise time (10–90%) of TTX-resistant IPSCs recorded in control solution (mean ± SD, 1.63 ± 0.68 msec;n = 267) and in the presence of (R)-(−)-baclofen (1.69 ± 0.70 msec;n = 113) were also not significantly different (p > 0.1). C, Plot of the amplitude of individual TTX-resistant IPSCs against their τ value in the absence (C1) and presence (C2) of (R)-(−)-baclofen. (R)-(−)-baclofen did not change the relation between the amplitude of TTX-resistant IPSC and τ. D, Plot of the rise time of individual TTX-resistant IPSCs against their peak amplitude in the absence (D1) and presence (D2) of (R)-(−)-baclofen. (R)-(−)-baclofen did not change the relation between rise time and amplitude when measured for individual events.

Inhibition of TTX-resistant IPSCs by GABAB receptors exists in different rodents

Because in hippocampal CA1 neurons of Sprague Dawley rats 10 μm (±)-baclofen did not inhibit TTX-resistant IPSCs in 5 mm [K+]o (Doze et al., 1995), we first investigated possible experimental differences that could account for the discrepancy in results. We tested a 1:1 mixture of (S)-(+)- and (R)-(−)-baclofen (each 5 μm). The mixture had a smaller effect than 10 μm (R)-(−)-baclofen, as expected from the concentration–response curve of the active enantiomer and the lack of effect of the inactive enantiomer (Table 1). Second, we tested whether a difference in species was responsible for the discrepancy. We recorded TTX-resistant IPSCs from CA1 pyramidal cells of Sprague Dawley rats and studied the effects of (R)-(−)-baclofen in the presence of Cd2+. In contrast to the effects in guinea pigs, 10 μm (R)-(−)-baclofen only slightly reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs in Sprague Dawley rats (Table 1). In five of eight pyramidal cells of Sprague Dawley rats, there was no significant reduction of the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs (Fig. 4A,B). In the three cells (from three animals) that exhibited a significant reduction, the effect amounted to 32%. Thus, GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition may be more difficult to detect in Sprague Dawley rats than in guinea pigs, particularly if a nonsaturating agonist concentration is used. Sprague Dawley rats, however, are exceptional among rodents with respect to another G-protein-mediated effect (Salin et al., 1995). To test for species versus strain differences, we therefore recorded TTX-resistant IPSCs in Cd2+ from another rat strain (Wistar). (R)-(−)-baclofen reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells of Wistar rats (Fig. 4C,D). Again, there was no effect on the amplitude of TTX-resistant IPSCs (Fig. 4D, Table 1). The inhibition by (R)-(−)-baclofen of the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs in Wistar rats was significant in six of six cells and quantitatively similar to the effect in guinea pigs (Table 1).

Fig. 4.
Fig. 4.

(R)-(−)-baclofen does not reduce the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs in a CA1 neuron of a Sprague Dawley rat but inhibits TTX-resistant IPSCs in a CA1 neuron of a Wistar rat. All recordings were performed in Cd2+ (100 μm). A, Eight consecutive traces (2 sec each) showing TTX-resistant IPSCs before (left) and 90 sec after start of the (R)-(−)-baclofen application (middle), and 7 min after commencing wash (right). B, Cumulative amplitude (B1) and frequency (B2) distributions are plotted for control, (R)-(−)-baclofen effect, and wash. (R)-(−)-baclofen did not significantly reduce the frequency or amplitude of TTX-resistant IPSCs in 100 μmCd2+ in this cell. The number of events used for the cumulative plots was 180 for control, 162 during (R)-(−)-baclofen, and 160 for recovery. C, D, (R)-(−)-baclofen reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs in Wistar rats, whereas the amplitude distribution was unchanged. The number of events used for the cumulative plots was 248 for control, 151 during (R)-(−)-baclofen, and 240 for recovery.

Protein kinase C (PKC) activator reduces GABABreceptor-mediated inhibition of quantal GABA release

In rat hippocampal CA1 pyramidal cells, activation of PKC reduces the baclofen-induced diminution of evoked IPSCs, although the depressant effect on the postsynaptic GABAB response is much stronger (Pitler and Alger, 1994). Because the inhibition of quantal release could be one mechanism by which GABABreceptors reduce GABA release, we studied the effects of PKC activators on the GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition of TTX-resistant IPSCs. Cd2+ and Ba2+ were continuously present to avoid interference with Ca2+ or K+conductances. As reported elsewhere (Capogna et al., 1995), β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (1 μm) increased the mean frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs not altering amplitude distribution (Figs. 5, 6). (R)-(−)-baclofen reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs significantly less in the presence of β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (Fig.6B), indicating that activation of PKC reduces GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition of quantal GABA release. Forskolin (20 μm), an indirect activator of protein kinase A (PKA), also enhanced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs recorded in Cd2+ and Ba2+. After stimulation of PKA by forskolin, (R)-(−)-baclofen strongly reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs (Figs. 5C,D,6B). Quantitatively, this effect was identical to the effect of (R)-(−)-baclofen in the absence of forskolin (Fig. 6B). On average, the increase in the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs was larger with β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate than with forskolin (Fig. 6A); however, when only cells with similar increases in frequency were considered (compare Fig.5; β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate: 208 ± 22%, n = 3; forskolin: 189 ± 15%, n = 3), the effects of (R)-(−)-baclofen were still significantly different (β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate: 78 ± 8%, n = 3; forskolin: 58 ± 10%, n = 3; p < 0.05, unpaired Student’s t test).

Fig. 5.
Fig. 5.

Effects of (R)-(−)-baclofen on TTX-resistant IPSCs on stimulation of β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (β-phorbol.) or forskolin (forskol.). TTX-resistant IPSCs were recorded in Ba2+ (1 mm) and Cd2+ (100 μm). A, GABABreceptor-mediated inhibition of TTX-resistant IPSCs in the presence of β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate. Consecutive traces (1 sec each) show that β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (β-phorbol.; 1 μm) strongly increased the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs. (R)-(−)-baclofen reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs. B, Cumulative amplitude and frequency distributions of TTX-resistant IPSCs reveal that neither (R)-(−)-baclofen nor β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate affected the amplitude distribution; however, β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate increased and (R)-(−)-baclofen thereafter reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs. The number of events used for the cumulative plots was 443 for control, 780 for β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate, and 541 during β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate and (R)-(−)-baclofen. C, GABABreceptor-mediated inhibition of TTX-resistant IPSCs in the presence of forskolin (20 μm). Consecutive traces (1 sec each) show that forskolin increased the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs. (R)-(−)-baclofen in the presence of forskolin still reduced the frequency. D, Cumulative amplitude and frequency distributions of TTX-resistant IPSCs. Neither forskolin nor (R)-(−)-baclofen (traces are superimposed) significantly affected the amplitude distribution (D1). Forskolin increased the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs; (R)-(−)-baclofen reduced it (D2). The number of events used for the cumulative plots was 364 for control, 652 for forskolin, and 374 during forskolin and (R)-(−)-baclofen.

Fig. 6.
Fig. 6.

Graphic representation of the effects of β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate, forskolin, and (R)-(−)-baclofen on TTX-resistant IPSCs. All recordings were performed in the presence of Cd2+ (100 μm) and Ba2+ (1 mm).A, β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (phorbol; 1 μm) or forskolin (forskol; 20 μm) increased the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs. B, In control (white column) and in the presence of forskolin (forskol), (R)-(−)-baclofen ((−)Bac) strongly reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs. In the presence of β-phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate, the reduction was significantly smaller (phorbol; Student’s ttest; p < 0.05). Columns represent mean effect for all cells (n = 4 forA; n = 6 for B). Error bars represent SEM.

DISCUSSION

Presynaptic GABAB receptors in the CA1 region of the rodent hippocampus inhibit quantal GABA release, and this inhibition is reduced by an activator of PKC. Inhibition of quantal release may participate in the autoinhibition of GABA release in the hippocampus, in addition to the well-known GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition of Ca2+ channels and activation of K+ conductances.

Characterization of (R)-(−)-baclofen-induced inhibition of quantal GABA release

(R)-(−)-baclofen reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs in CA1 pyramidal cells of the rodent hippocampus by an action on GABAB receptors. The pharmacological identification rests on the specific action of agonists and antagonists. We found that the active (R)-(−) but not the inactive (S)-(+) enantiomer of baclofen reduced TTX-resistant IPSCs. Furthermore, the inhibition was blocked by a high-affinity GABAB antagonist, CGP 55845A (Froestl et al., 1992; Jarolimek et al., 1993). The EC50 for the baclofen-mediated inhibition of TTX-resistant IPSCs (1.8 μm) is similar to the EC50 described for various presynaptic baclofen effects. Typical concentrations of baclofen used for presynaptic inhibition of IPSCs in CA1 neurons range from 1 to 50 μm (Lambert et al., 1991; Doze et al., 1995;Pearce et al., 1995), although a high-affinity effect of baclofen (EC50 100 nm) has also been found (Pearce et al., 1995).

Baclofen inhibits Ca2+ channels (for review, see Dolphin, 1995), and this effect may contribute substantially to the potent presynaptic inhibition of action potential-dependent GABA release in the hippocampus (Pitler and Alger, 1994; Doze et al., 1995). In our study on CA1 neurons of the rodent hippocampus, (R)-(−)-baclofen reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs also after blockade of Ca2+ channels by Cd2+. Thus, inhibition of Ca2+ channels is not the only mechanism by which GABA can inhibit its own release. We tested (R)-(−)-baclofen in the presence of both TTX and Cd2+, because it has been shown that spontaneous synaptic activity recorded in TTX acquires Cd2+-sensitivity when [K+]o is raised to 20 mm in cultured neurons (Finch et al., 1990; Jarolimek and Misgeld, 1991) and in brain slices (Doze et al., 1995). Doze et al. (1995) found that baclofen reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs in 20 mm [K+]o but not in 5 mm [K+]o. Because Cd2+ occluded the baclofen effect in 20 mm[K+]o, they concluded that the effect of baclofen on TTX-resistant IPSCs exclusively reflected an action on Ca2+ channels. In cultured midbrain neurons, (R)-(−)-baclofen reduced the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs in both 5 and 20 mm [K+]o. Because the effect was much stronger in 20 mm[K+]o, we suggested that in 20 mm[K+]o, (R)-(−)-baclofen acts through an inhibition of both Ca2+ channels and quantal release (Jarolimek and Misgeld, 1992).

Activation of a postsynaptic K+ conductance by (R)-(−)-baclofen could mimic an inhibition of TTX-resistant IPSCs; however, there was neither an (R)-(−)-baclofen-induced postsynaptic K+conductance increase nor a reduction of the amplitude of TTX-resistant IPSCs, and the inhibition of TTX-resistant IPSCs persisted in the presence of the K+ channel blocker Ba2+ (and Cd2+). This suggests that GABAB receptors reduce quantal GABA release by a presynaptic, Cd2+- and Ba2+-insensitive mechanism.

Previous studies have shown that presynaptic GABABreceptor-mediated effects are heterogenous at different GABAergic nerve terminals in the hippocampus. A portion of evoked IPSCs is reduced only slightly (Pearce et al., 1995) or not at all (Lambert and Wilson, 1993) by baclofen, whereas another portion of IPSCs recorded in the same cells is highly sensitive to baclofen. In CA1 neurons of rat hippocampus, evoked IPSCs with a slow decay are more sensitive than fast decaying IPSCs (Pearce et al., 1995). The analysis of the rise time and decay time constants of TTX-resistant IPSCs in the guinea pig hippocampus did not reveal such a divergence on the level of quantal GABA release.

Various transmitters are known to inhibit quantal release of glutamate and GABA (for references, see introductory remarks). The GABAB receptor agonist baclofen was reported to inhibit TTX-resistant EPSCs (Scanziani et al., 1992) but not TTX-resistant IPSCs in the rat hippocampus (Cohen et al., 1992; Scanziani et al., 1992; Doze et al., 1995). GABAB receptors, however, do inhibit TTX-resistant IPSCs in thalamic neurons of rat slices (Ulrich and Huguenard, 1996) and cultured rat midbrain neurons (Jarolimek and Misgeld, 1992). This might indicate that GABAB receptor subtypes or different second messenger systems are involved in different brain regions of different species. The data of this study, however, indicate that (R)-(−)-baclofen inhibits quantal GABA release also in the hippocampus.

The findings of the present study contradict a previous study in which baclofen did not inhibit TTX-resistant IPSCs in hippocampal CA1 neurons of Sprague Dawley rats (Doze et al., 1995). We found two reasons for an explanation of the discrepancy. We used an almost saturating concentration of the active enantiomer of baclofen ((R)-(−)-baclofen) to elicit maximal effects, whereas the less effective racemate was used in the previous study. The racemate had significantly smaller effects in guinea pig slices than the almost saturating concentration of (R)-(−)-baclofen. The baclofen-mediated reduction in the frequency of TTX-resistant IPSCs was qualitatively similar in guinea pigs and in Wistar and Sprague Dawley rats; however, the reduction by a saturating concentration was quantitatively smaller in Sprague Dawley rats than in guinea pigs or Wistar rats. The application of an agonist concentration near the EC50 of the active enantiomer in combination with the use of slices from “insensitive” Sprague Dawley rats together may explain the negative finding of the previous study. In contrast to the presynaptic inhibition of evoked EPSCs by κ-opioids that is found in hippocampal slices of various rodents but not in those of Sprague Dawley rats (Salin et al., 1995), presynaptic inhibition of quantal GABA release by GABAB receptors exists also in thalamic (Ulrich and Huguenard, 1996) and hippocampal terminals of the latter species. The inconsistency and faintness of the effect in hippocampal terminals of Sprague Dawley rats may depend then on a different stage of regulation of GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition among different rodent strains, e.g., on a regulation through phosphorylating and dephosphorylating processes.

Regulation of GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition of quantal GABA release

The mechanism by which GABAB receptors reduce quantal transmitter release is unknown. Many proteins that are involved in the release cascade possess potential phosphorylation sites (Südhof, 1995), which could be the target of second messengers activated by GABAB receptors. Activation of PKA or PKC enhances quantal GABA release (Capogna et al., 1995; Sciancalepore and Cherubini, 1995; this study), indicating that phosphorylation may play an essential role in the tuning of quantal release. Phosphorylation by PKC not only enhances transmitter release but also reduces the inhibition of quantal GABA release by baclofen. In contrast, activation of PKA by forskolin does not reduce the baclofen effect, although it also enhances transmitter release. Thus, the autoinhibition of GABA release is controlled by PKC in a synergistic way, i.e., a reduction in the effectiveness of the inhibitor and an increased transmitter release. In the CA1 region of the hippocampus, activation of PKC causes a strong depression of the postsynaptic GABAB response and a smaller inhibition of the baclofen-induced reduction of evoked IPSCs (Pitler and Alger, 1994). The GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition of IPSCs is probably caused by an inhibition of Ca2+ influx and of quantal release. Because the GABAB receptor-mediated inhibition of Ca2+ currents may be PKC insensitive (Diversé-Pierluissi and Dunlap, 1993), the PKC-sensitive reduction of evoked release could be caused by the inhibition of quantal GABA release.

Conclusion

GABAB receptors, like other G-protein-coupled receptors, are functionally heterogenous. They can couple to K+ channels, to Ca2+ channels, or directly to the release cascade. For many receptors that could be characterized by their sequence structure, the functional diversity is associated with the existence of receptor subtypes. Receptor subtypes may be expected, therefore, for GABAB receptors. Activation of GABAB receptors inhibits quantal GABA release in the CA1 region of the rodent brain and is regulated by PKC. Various neurotransmitters with a G-protein requirement, including GABA, modulate quantal transmitter release (cf. introductory remarks). The dual mode of action, i.e., modulation of voltage-gated channels and quantal release, may represent a common feature of modulation of transmitter release at synapses mediating fast synaptic transmission.

Footnotes

  • This work was supported by the Sonderforschungsbereich 317/B13 of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. We thank John F. X. O’Callaghan for helpful discussions and C. Heuser and A. Lewen for excellent technical support. The gift of baclofen, CGP55845A as well as CGP 37849, by Ciba Geigy, Basel, Switzerland, is highly appreciated.

    Correspondence should be addressed to Dr. Ulrich Misgeld, Institute of Physiology, University of Heidelberg, Im Neuenheimer Feld 326, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany.

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GABAB Receptor-Mediated Inhibition of Tetrodotoxin-Resistant GABA Release in Rodent Hippocampal CA1 Pyramidal Cells
Wolfgang Jarolimek, Ulrich Misgeld
Journal of Neuroscience 1 February 1997, 17 (3) 1025-1032; DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.17-03-01025.1997
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