Abstract
In the central nervous system (CNS), γ–aminobutyric acid A (GABAA) receptors mediate two types of inhibitory effects. Phasic inhibition involves the activation of synaptic GABAA receptors, and tonic inhibition is mediated by extrasynaptic GABAA receptors. GABAA receptors are important regulators of neuronal activity and are involved in a range of neurological disorders. In this study, we conducted sIPSCs recordings on hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons in WT SD rats and found that exposure to blue light could specifically block the tonic inhibition and sIPSCs, and regulate neuronal activity. These observations indicate the existence of a non-opsin photosensitive pathway that regulates the GABA inhibitory system in the CNS.
Highlights
IntroductionThe principal inhibitory system acts via GABAA and GABAB receptors
In the human brain, the principal inhibitory system acts via GABAA and GABAB receptors
We observed inhibition of the amplitude and frequency of the sIPSCs (Fig. 1A). To investigate whether this effect was wavelength specific, we tested the effect of UV and green light, both of which had no effect (p > 0.05), even with longer exposure times (Fig. 1B,C). This result indicates the possibility that there is a specific, blue light sensitive pathway and that this pathway is capable of regulating neuronal activity in the hippocampus
Summary
The principal inhibitory system acts via GABAA and GABAB receptors. A recent study reported that the activity of fast-spiking interneurons in the cerebral cortex could be suppressed by heat produced by sustained light exposure with a power of 3 mW~15 mW, which is commonly used in optogenetic procedures This phenomenon was not observed in the hippocampal CA1 area[9]. We found that blue light could and reversibly block tonic inhibition and sIPSCs in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons in 6- to 8-week-old female WT SD rats. This effect was unrelated to the heating effect, which indicated the existence of a non-opsin photosensitive pathway that regulates the GABA inhibitory system
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