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Dual Role of GABA in the Neonatal Rat Hippocampus

Dual Role of GABA in the Neonatal Rat Hippocampus The effects of modulators of GABA-A receptors on neuronal network activity were studied in the neonatal (postnatal days 0–5) rat hippocampus in vitro. Under control conditions, the physiological pattern of activity of the neonatal hippocampal network was characterized by spontaneous network-driven giant depolarizing potentials (GDPs). The GABA-A receptor agonist isoguvacine (1–2 μM) and the allosteric modulator diazepam (2 μM) induced biphasic responses: initially the frequency of GDPs increased 3 to 4 fold followed by blockade of GDPs and desynchronization of the network activity. The GABA-A receptor antagonists bicuculline (10 μM) and picrotoxin (100 μM) blocked GDPs and induced glutamate (AMPA and NMDA)-receptor-mediated interictal- and ictal-like activities in the hippocampal slices and the intact hippocampus. These data suggest that at early postnatal ages GABA can exert a dual – both excitatory and inhibitory – action on the network activity. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Developmental Neuroscience Karger

Dual Role of GABA in the Neonatal Rat Hippocampus

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References (42)

Publisher
Karger
Copyright
© 1999 S. Karger AG, Basel
ISSN
0378-5866
eISSN
1421-9859
DOI
10.1159/000017380
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The effects of modulators of GABA-A receptors on neuronal network activity were studied in the neonatal (postnatal days 0–5) rat hippocampus in vitro. Under control conditions, the physiological pattern of activity of the neonatal hippocampal network was characterized by spontaneous network-driven giant depolarizing potentials (GDPs). The GABA-A receptor agonist isoguvacine (1–2 μM) and the allosteric modulator diazepam (2 μM) induced biphasic responses: initially the frequency of GDPs increased 3 to 4 fold followed by blockade of GDPs and desynchronization of the network activity. The GABA-A receptor antagonists bicuculline (10 μM) and picrotoxin (100 μM) blocked GDPs and induced glutamate (AMPA and NMDA)-receptor-mediated interictal- and ictal-like activities in the hippocampal slices and the intact hippocampus. These data suggest that at early postnatal ages GABA can exert a dual – both excitatory and inhibitory – action on the network activity.

Journal

Developmental NeuroscienceKarger

Published: Nov 1, 1999

Keywords: Bicuculline; Diazepam; γ-Aminobutyric acid; Development; Hippocampus; Seizure

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