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. 1981 Nov;74(3):579–585. doi: 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1981.tb10467.x

Two types of γ-aminobutyric acid receptor on embryonic sensory neurones

Kathleen Dunlap
PMCID: PMC2071768  PMID: 6271320

Abstract

1 Embryonic sensory neurones of the chick grown in dissociated cell culture respond to application of low concentrations of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) with a change in resting membrane resistance (Rin) and/or a change in action potential duration (APD) (Dunlap & Fischbach, 1978; Choi & Fischbach, 1981). Intracellular microelectrode recording techniques were employed to determine if these two effects are mediated by the same, or different, GABA receptors.

2 Cells responded, for the most part, with a change in either Rin or APD, but 10% of the cells exhibited both effects. In the latter cells the two responses were clearly distinguishable as discussed below.

3 The proportion of neurones exhibiting a GABA-induced decrease in Rin declined during the first week in vitro while the proportion exhibiting a decrease in APD increased during that time.

4 The two effects were pharmacologically distinct. Muscimol, a GABA analogue, produced only the change in Rin (ED50 = 5.5 μM) while baclofen, another analogue of GABA, produced only the change in APD (ED50 = 1 μM). The analogues were approximately equipotent with GABA. Bicuculline, a GABA antagonist, blocked the muscimol-induced change in Rin (but not the baclofen-induced change in APD) in a dose-dependent fashion with an ID50 = 0.7 μM.

5 The time courses of the two effects were different. The change in APD resulting from a brief application of GABA (or baclofen) was prolonged relative to the rapid return to control associated with the GABA- (or muscimol-) induced change in Rin.

6 Desensitization of the two responses exhibited separate time courses. In the continual presence of the agonists, GABA- and muscimol-induced decreases in Rin completely desensitized in ca. 10 s while GABA- and baclofen-induced decreases in APD persisted undiminished throughout a prolonged (1 min) application of the drugs and returned to control only after cessation of application.

7 It is concluded that embryonic chick sensory neurones in culture exhibit two types of GABA receptor that differ in their functional and pharmacological properties. Implications of these results are discussed.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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