RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Enhancement of GABA-activated membrane currents in aged Fischer 344 rat basal forebrain neurons [published erratum appears in J Neurosci 1995 Jul;15(7):following table of contents]
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 2407
OP 2416
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.15-03-02407.1995
VO 15
IS 3
A1 Griffith, WH
A1 Murchison, DA
YR 1995
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/15/3/2407.abstract
AB Changes in GABAergic systems have been widely documented during development. Similar changes might also occur during aging, but little information is currently available. Whole-cell and single-channel GABAA- activated currents were studied in acutely dissociated basal forebrain neurons. An age-related increase in whole-cell GABA currents was observed in cells from aged (19–25 month) Fischer 344 rats. The GABA current from aged animals displayed a greater maximum response, with no change in EC50 or slope of the GABA response curve. A reduction in use- dependent slow receptor desensitization was also observed in aged cells. Single-channel conductance and channel open time were unchanged with age, suggesting no alteration in the properties of single GABA channels. The benzodiazepine, midazolam, potentiated GABA currents to a greater degree in aged animals, consistent with previous reports of enhanced benzodiazepine activity with age. Ontogeny of the GABAA receptor/ion channel complex may continue through the stages of development, maturation, and aging.