Inhibition Of Gamma-aminobutyric Acid Release Research Articles

Stress Promotes Drug Seeking Through Glucocorticoid-Dependent Endocannabinoid Mobilization in the Prelimbic Cortex

BackgroundClinical reports suggest that rather than directly driving cocaine use, stress may create a biological context within which other triggers for drug use become more potent. We hypothesize that stress-induced increases in corticosterone “set the stage” for relapse by promoting endocannabinoid-induced attenuation of inhibitory transmission in the prelimbic cortex (PL). MethodsWe have established a rat model for these stage-setting effects of stress. In this model, neither a stressor (electric footshock) nor stress-level corticosterone treatment alone reinstates cocaine seeking following self-administration and extinction, but each treatment potentiates reinstatement in response to an otherwise subthreshold cocaine priming dose (2.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal). The contributions of endocannabinoid signaling in the PL to the effects of stress-level corticosterone on PL neurotransmission and cocaine seeking were determined using intra-PL microinfusions. Endocannabinoid-dependent effects of corticosterone on inhibitory synaptic transmission in the rat PL were determined using whole-cell recordings in layer V pyramidal neurons. ResultsCorticosterone application attenuated inhibitory synaptic transmission in the PL via cannabinoid receptor type 1 (CB1R)– and 2-arachidonoylglycerol–dependent inhibition of gamma-aminobutyric acid release without altering postsynaptic responses. The ability of systemic stress-level corticosterone treatment to potentiate cocaine-primed reinstatement was recapitulated by intra-PL injection of corticosterone, the CB1R agonist WIN 55,212-2, or the monoacylglycerol lipase inhibitor URB602. Corticosterone effects on reinstatement were attenuated by intra-PL injections of either the CB1R antagonist, AM251, or the diacylglycerol lipase inhibitor, DO34. ConclusionsThese findings suggest that stress-induced increases in corticosterone promote cocaine seeking by mobilizing 2-arachidonoylglycerol in the PL, resulting in CB1R-mediated attenuation of inhibitory transmission in this brain region.

Presynaptic Ethanol Actions: Potential Roles in Ethanol Seeking.

Ethanol produces intoxication through actions on numerous molecular and cellular targets. Adaptations involving these and other targets contribute to chronic drug actions that underlie continued and problematic drinking. Among the mechanisms involved in these ethanol actions are alterations in presynaptic mechanisms of synaptic transmission, including presynaptic protein function and excitation-secretion coupling. At synapses in the central nervous system (CNS), excitation-secretion coupling involves ion channel activation followed by vesicle fusion and neurotransmitter release. These mechanisms are altered by presynaptic neurotransmitter receptors and prominently by G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). Studies over the last 20-25years have revealed that acute ethanol exposure alters neurotransmitter secretion, with especially robust effects on synapses that use the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Intracellular signaling pathways involving second messengers such as cyclic AMP and calcium are implicated in these acute ethanol actions. Ethanol-induced release of neuropeptides and small molecule neurotransmitters that act on presynaptic GPCRs also contribute to presynaptic potentiation at synapses in the amygdala and hippocampus and inhibition of GABA release in the striatum. Prolonged exposure to ethanol alters neurotransmitter release at many CNS GABAergic and glutamatergic synapses, and changes in GPCR function are implicated in many of these neuroadaptations. These presynaptic neuroadaptations appear to involve compensation for acute drug effects at some synapses, but "allostatic" effects that result in long-term resetting of synaptic efficacy occur at others. Current investigations are determining how presynaptic neuroadaptations contribute to behavioral changes at different stages of alcohol drinking, with increasing focus on circuit adaptations underlying these behaviors. This chapter will discuss the acute and chronic presynaptic effects of ethanol in the CNS, as well as some of the consequences of these effects in amygdala and corticostriatal circuits that are related to excessive seeking/drinking and ethanol abuse.

Presynaptic Inhibition of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Release in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis by Kappa Opioid Receptor Signaling

The kappa opioid receptor (KOR) and its endogenous agonist, the neuropeptide dynorphin, are a critical component of the central stress system. Both dynorphin and KOR are expressed in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST), a brain region associated with anxiety and stress. This suggests that KOR activation in this region may play a role in the regulation of emotional behaviors. To date, however, there has been no investigation of the ability of KOR to modulate synaptic transmission in the BNST. We used whole-cell patch-clamp recordings from acutely prepared mouse brain slices to examine the actions of KOR on inhibitory transmission in the BNST. Additionally, we used neurochemical and pathway-specific optogenetic manipulations to selectively stimulate gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic fibers from the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA) to the BNST. We found that activation of KOR reduced GABAergic transmission through a presynaptic mechanism. Furthermore, we examined the signal transduction pathways that mediate this inhibition and provide the first functional information implicating extracellular signal-regulated kinase in KOR-mediated presynaptic modulation. Moreover, we found that at KOR signaling robustly reduced inhibitory synaptic transmission in the CeA to BNST pathway. Together, these results demonstrate that KOR provides important inhibitory control over presynaptic GABAergic signaling within the BNST and provides the first direct functional demonstration of KOR-sensitive long-range GABAergic connections between the CeA and the BNST.

Presynaptic Inhibition of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Release in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis by Kappa Opioid Receptor Signaling

Presynaptic Inhibition of Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Release in the Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis by Kappa Opioid Receptor Signaling

Voltage‐gated Ca2+ channel subtypes mediating GABAergic transmission in the rat supraoptic nucleus

The supraoptic nucleus receives an abundant gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic input which is inhibited by activation of various presynaptic metabotropic receptors. We here analysed the subtypes of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels intervening in the control of transmitter release at these synapses. To address this issue, we tested various specific inhibitors of Ca2+ channels on evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs). Blocking N- and P-type voltage-gated Ca2+ channels with 1 micromomega-conotoxin-GVIA and 20 nmomega-agatoxin-IVA, respectively, dramatically reduced IPSC amplitude. Q- and L-type Ca2+ channels also contributed to GABAergic transmission, although to a lesser extent, as revealed by applications of 200 nmomega-agatoxin-IVA and of the dihydropyridines nifedipine (10 microm) and nimodipine (10 microm). Evoked IPSCs were insensitive to SNX-482 (300 nm), a blocker of some R-type Ca2+ channels. Analysis of selective blockade by the various antagonists suggested that multiple types of Ca2+ channels synergistically interact to trigger exocytosis at some individual GABA release sites. We next investigated whether inhibition of GABA release in response to the activation of metabotropic glutamate, GABA and adenosine receptors involved the modulation of these presynaptic Ca2+ channels. This was not the case, as the inhibitory actions of selective agonists of these receptors were unaffected by the presence of the different Ca2+ channel antagonists. This finding suggests that these metabotropic receptors modulate GABAergic transmission through a different mechanism, downstream of Ca2+ entry in the terminals, or upstream through the activation of K+ channels.

Coexistence of serotonin 3 (5‐HT3) and CB1 cannabinoid receptors in interneurons of hippocampus and dentate gyrus

Using in situ hybridization histochemistry, a high degree of coexpression of the functional 5-HT3A subunit of the 5-HT3 receptor and the central CB1 cannabinoid receptor was detected in all subfields of the hippocampus and subgranular layer of the dentate gyrus (DG). Semi-quantitative analysis demonstrated that, depending on the hippocampal layer, 72-88% of CB1-expressing interneurons coexpress the 5-HT3A subunit. Within the DG, 5-HT3A/CB1 double-labeled neurons were confined to the subgranular layer, where close to 80% of all CB1-expressing basket neurons were found to contain 5-HT3A subunit transcripts. These results provide the first evidence indicating that the only ion channel receptor for serotonin and central CB1 cannabinoid receptor coexist in neurons containing the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). These findings suggest possible interactions between the cannabinoid and serotonergic systems at the level of GABA neurotransmission. However, activation of 5-HT3- or CB1-receptors are likely to have opposing regulatory effects on GABA neurotransmission, as 5-HT3 receptor activation by serotonin results in the release of GABA, while CB1 activation by cannabinoids results in inhibition of GABA release.

K+ channel openers activate brain sulfonylurea-sensitive K+ channels and block neurosecretion.

Vascular K+ channel openers such as cromakalim, nicorandil, and pinacidil potently stimulate 86Rb+ efflux from slices of substantia nigra. This 86Rb+ efflux is blocked by antidiabetic sulfonylureas, which are known to be potent and specific blockers of ATP-regulated K+ channels in pancreatic beta cells, cardiac cells, and smooth muscle cells. K0.5, the half-maximal effect of the enantiomer (-)-cromakalim, is as low as 10 nM, whereas K0.5 for nicorandil is 100 nM. These two compounds appear to have a much higher affinity for nerve cells than for smooth muscle cells. Openers of sulfonylurea-sensitive K+ channels lead to inhibition of gamma-aminobutyric acid release. There is an excellent relationship between potency to activate 86Rb+ efflux and potency to inhibit neurotransmitter release.

Inhibition of GABA release from slices prepared from several brain regions of rats at various times following a convulsion.

1 A method is described for the measurement of the K+-evoked release of endogenous gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from slices of rat cortex, hippocampus and striatum. 2 In tissue prepared 30 min following an electroconvulsive shock, K+-evoked GABA release (above basal release) was inhibited by 45% in cortex, 50% in hippocampus and 75% in striatum. A similar inhibition of release was observed with slices prepared from rats in which a convulsion had been induced by flurothyl. There was no change in spontaneous (basal) release following either procedure. 3 An inhibition of K+-evoked endogenous GABA release was also seen in tissue prepared 4 min postictally but not 2 h after the seizure. 4 No difference was observed in the release of [3H]-GABA from preloaded cortical slices prepared from rats given a single electroconvulsive shock. 5 It is proposed that a convulsion results in an inhibition of GABA release and that this inhibition may in turn inhibit GABA synthesis as described in the preceding paper. 6 It is also proposed that changes in the endogenous releasable pool of GABA may not be detected by preloading slices with [3H]-GABA.

Pharmacological studies on lamotrigine, a novel potential antiepileptic drug: II. Neurochemical studies on the mechanism of action.

Lamotrigine (LTG) [3,5-diamino-6-(2,3-dichlorophenyl)-1,2,4-triazine] is a novel anticonvulsant chemically unrelated to current antiepileptic drugs and with a pharmacological profile similar to that of phenytoin. The effect of LTG has been compared with that of phenytoin, on the release of endogenous amino acids and radiolabelled acetylcholine evoked by veratrine or potassium, from slices of rat cerebral cortex in vitro. Both veratrine and potassium evoked a marked release of glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), with a more moderate release of aspartate. LTG inhibited veratrine-evoked release of glutamate and aspartate, with ED50 values of 21 microM for both amino acids, but LTG was less potent in the inhibition of GABA release (ED50 = 44 microM). At concentrations up to 300 microM, LTG had no effect on potassium-evoked amino acid release or on spontaneous release. Also, LTG was some five times less potent in the inhibition of veratrine-evoked [3H]acetylcholine release (ED50 = 100 microM) than in glutamate or aspartate release. The total lack of effect of LTG on potassium-evoked release and the potent effect on veratrine-evoked release (at concentrations found in rat brain after anticonvulsant doses) strongly suggest that LTG acts at voltage-sensitive sodium channels to stabilise neuronal membranes and inhibit transmitter release, principally glutamate. The role of glutamate in the aetiology of epilepsy is discussed.

Inhibition of gamma-aminobutyric acid release from synaptosomes by local anesthetics.

The effects of local anesthetics on the synthesis, release, and degradation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in rat brains were investigated. The addition of procaine, lidocaine, cocaine, or tetracaine did not alter either glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) activity or GABA transaminase (GABA-T) activity in vitro. Neither did the enzyme activities in rats with local anesthetic-induced convulsions differ from control values. Tetracaine inhibited high K+-evoked [2,3-3H]GABA release from synaptosomes of rat brain in a dose-dependent manner with a minimal effective concentration of 10(-4) M. Cocaine, lidocaine, and procaine also reduced the release, although they were less potent than tetracaine. The GABA release inhibitors in order of potency are tetracaine, cocaine, lidocaine, and procaine which correlates well with their relative toxicity as convulsants. These results suggest that local anesthetics reduce GABAergic activities by inhibiting the release of the neurotransmitter from the nerve terminals, and that inhibition of the GABA system may be involved in the mechanism of local anesthetic-induced convulsions.

Adenosine inhibition of gamma-aminobutyric acid release from slices of rat cerebral cortex.

1 The effect of purine compounds on the potassium-evoked release of 14C-labelled gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) has been studied in 400 micrometers slices of rat cerebral cortex in vitro. 2 Adenosine and adenosine 5' monophosphate (AMP) inhibited the release of GABA at 10(-5) to 10(-3) M. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) produced a significant inhibition of release only at 10(-3) M. 3 Theophylline 10(-4) or 10(-3) M reduced the inhibitory effect of adenosine, but did not change basal release of GABA. 4 Dipyridamole 10(-5) M itself reduced evoked GABA release, but did not prevent the inhibitory effect of adenosine, implying that adenosine was acting at an extracellularly directed receptor. 5 Calcium removal or antagonism by verapamil reduced the evoked release of GABA, but adenosine did not produce any further reduction of the calcium-independent release. This may indicate that the inhibitory effect of adenosine on GABA release results from interference with calcium influx or availability within the terminals.