Presynaptic inhibition at excitatory hippocampal synapses: Development and
role of presynaptic Ca2+ channels.
Scholz, Kenneth P. and Richard J. Miller.
Dept. of Pharmacological and Physiological Sciences, University of
Chicago.
APStracts 3:0022N, 1996.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
1) Presynaptic inhibition of excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) induced
by activation of adenosine receptors was examined at hippocampal synapses in
cell culture. Changes in the degree of presynaptic inhibition during
development were examined. The results were then used to test the role of
presynaptic Ca 2+ channels in presynaptic inhibition. 2) Application of the
selective A1 adenosine receptor agonist N 6 -cyclopentyladenosine (CPA)
reduced excitatory postsynaptic currents measured using whole-cell voltage
clamp procedures. In cells grown in culture for less than 15 days, CPA (100
nM) inhibited EPSCs by 74 + 2%. In cells grown in culture for more than 20
days, the same concentration of CPA inhibited EPSCs by 47 + 3%. 3) In mature
cells (grown in culture for more than 20 days), application of the selective
N-type Ca 2+ channel blocker w -conotoxin GVIA (w-CTx GVIA; 2.5 [mu] M)
partially occluded the effects of CPA. In contrast, the P/Q channel blocker w
-Aga IVA enhanced the effects of CPA. Both toxins reduced the amplitude of the
EPSC. 4) w -CTx GVIA was applied to the EPSC that remained after application
of 100 nM CPA. Under these conditions, w -CTx GVIA reduced the EPSC by less
than when w -CTx GVIA was applied under control conditions. In contrast, when
w -Aga IVA was applied in the presence of CPA the toxin reduced the EPSC to a
greater extent than when it was applied under control conditions. 5) Somatic
Ca 2+ -channel currents were inhibited by CPA. This effect was partially
occluded by pretreatment with w -CTx GVIA but was unaffected by pretreatment
with w -Aga IVA (1 [mu] M). Both toxins blocked part of the somatic Ca 2+ -
channel current. 6) The results indicate that inhibition of presynaptic N-type
Ca 2+ channels accounted for 40-50% of presynaptic inhibition, another type of
Ca 2+ channel may participate as well. In addition, the efficacy of
presynaptic inhibition declined during synapse maturation due in part to a
developmental decline in the relative contribution of N-type channels to
transmitter release.
Received 5 September 1995; accepted in final form 8 January 1995.
APS Manuscript Number J588-5.
Article publication pending J. Neurophysiol.
ISSN 1080-4757 Copyright 1996 The American Physiological Society.
Published in APStracts on 29 January 96