Figure 1.

The amplitude of simulated IPSCs depends on the neurotransmitter time exposure. (A) Currents simulated using the Jones and Westbrook model (rate constants from Mozrzymas et al., 1999) elicited by four different GABA pulses. At GABA pulses with τ lower than ~500 μs, the current amplitude strongly depends on GABA pulse length. Please note that current evoked by fast clearance GABA pulses (τ = 50 μs) is markedly smaller that that obtained by longer GABA exposures. (B) Jones and Westbrook’s (1995) model. It assumes the sequential binding of two GABA molecules and includes open (AR*, A₂R*) and desensitized (AD, A₂D) states originating from both mono- and doubly liganded closed states (AR, A₂R). This gating scheme has been extensively used in the investigation of the gating properties of GABA_AR and, although oversimplified, this model reproduces the basic features of GABA_AR (Jones and Westbrook, 1995; Mozrzymas et al., 2003b).