Showing papers on "GABAergic published in 1985"

Antisera to gamma-aminobutyric acid. III. Demonstration of GABA in Golgi-impregnated neurons and in conventional electron microscopic sections of cat striate cortex.

Abstract: Two methods are described for the immunocytochemical demonstration of immunoreactive gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the visual cortex of the cat, an area that contains several types of GABAergic neurons and requires combined methods for their characterization. The first method is illustrated by a representative example of a Golgi-impregnated and gold-toned interneuron of the "bitufted" type situated in layer VI and having an ascending axon. After recording the three-dimensional features of the cell, semithin (0.5 micron) sections of the perikaryon were cut and GABA was demonstrated in the cell body by the unlabeled antibody enzyme method. While immunocytochemistry was used to determine the probable transmitter of the neuron, Golgi-impregnation of the same cell was used to identify its neuronal type. Since aldehyde-osmium fixation was used, further electron microscopic (EM) analysis of the neuron's synaptic connections was possible. The second procedure demonstrated GABA in EM sections of aldehyde-osmiu...

Antisera to gamma-aminobutyric acid. II. Immunocytochemical application to the central nervous system.

Abstract: An antiserum to gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was tested for the localization of GABAergic neurons in the central nervous system using the unlabeled antibody enzyme method under pre- and postembed...

Diazepam-binding inhibitor: a neuropeptide located in selected neuronal populations of rat brain.

Abstract: An endogenous polypeptide of rat brain has been identified that is capable of displacing 1,4-benzodiazepines and the esters of the 3-carboxylic acid derivatives of beta-carbolines from their specific synaptic binding sites. This polypeptide was termed diazepam-binding inhibitor (DBI). Previous studies have shown that DBI injected intraventricularly in rodents elicits "proconflict" responses and antagonizes the "anticonflict" action of benzodiazepines. An antiserum to this peptide, directed toward an immunodeterminant near its amino terminus, makes it possible to detect, measure, and study the neuronal location of this peptide in rat brain. In the rat cerebral cortex, DBI immunoreactivity is located in neurons that are not GABAergic (GABA, gamma-aminobutyric acid); in the cerebellum and hippocampus, however, it might be present also in GABAergic neurons.

GABA neurons in the superficial layers of the rat dorsal cochlear nucleus: Light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry

Abstract: This article is an application of light and electron microscopic immunocytochemistry to the study of the neuronal circuit of the superficial layers in the rat dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN). An antiserum against the intrinsic marker glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) is used to identify and map axon terminals and neurons that use gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) as a neurotransmitter. It is demonstrated that layers 1 and 2 of the DCN contain a very high density of GABAergic boutons, matched only by the granule cell domains of the ventral cochlear nucleus, especially the superficial granule cell domain. These two layers also contain much higher concentrations of GABAergic cell bodies than all other magnocellular regions of the cochlear nuclear complex. Cartwheel and stellate neurons, and probably also Golgi cells, previously characterized in Golgi and electron microscopic investigations, appear immunostained and, therefore, are presumably inhibitory. The synaptic relations between parallel fibers, the axons of granule cells, and cartwheel and stellate neurons are confirmed. The present study also supports the conclusion that stellate cells are coupled to one another by gap junctions. Also scattered in layer 1 are large, GABAergic neurons that occur with irregular frequency and presumably represent displaced Purkinje cells, previously identified with a Purkinje-cell-specific marker. Granule neurons and pyramidal neurons remain unstained, even after topical injection of colchicine, which enhances immunostaining of the other glutamate-decarboxylase-positive cells, and therefore must use transmitters different from GABA. The possible analogies between the spiny cartwheel and the aspiny stellate cells of the DCN and the cerebellar Purkinje and stellate/basket cells are discussed in the light of data from Golgi, electon microscopy, and transmitter imunocytochemistry.

Upregulation of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) B binding sites in rat frontal cortex: a common action of repeated administration of different classes of antidepressants and electroshock.

Abstract: The action of different classes of clinically effective antidepressants and electroshock on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) B recognition sites in the frontal cortex was compared to that of other psychotropic agents. After either prolonged (6-18 days) s.c. infusion via osmotic minipumps or repeated i.p. injections of different antidepressants, or a series of electroshocks, treatment was halted and 72 hr later the animals were sacrificed, the brain was dissected and frozen. All major antidepressants (desipramine, amitryptyline or maprotiline), several newer compounds with reported antidepressant activity (viloxazine, zimelidine, fluoxetine, citalopram, progabide, fengabine, sodium valproate, mianserin, trazodone or nomifensine) as well as pargyline and repeated electroshocks, up-regulated GABA B binding in the rat frontal cortex but not hippocampus. This appeared to be a maximum binding effect, but in some instance the kinetics were more complex. Reserpine, diphenylhydantoin and phenobarbital down-regulated GABA B binding in the frontal cortex, whereas this was unaltered by haloperidol, chlorpromazine or diazepam administration. Desipramine up-regulated GABA B binding in a dose- and time-dependent manner (minimum effective dose, 1.25 mg/kg/day s.c. for 18 days; onset of action, 6 days at 5 mg/kg/day s.c.). Together with the rather sparse data in the literature on GABA in depression and antidepressant drug action, these findings support a common GABAergic mechanism of action of antidepressant drugs and electroshock, mediated via GABA B synapses.

gamma-Vinyl GABA: a double-blind placebo-controlled trial in partial epilepsy.

Abstract: The antiepileptic effect of gamma-vinyl gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), an irreversible GABA-transaminase inhibitor, was investigated in an add-on, placebo-controlled, double-blind, cross-over, fixed-dose trial. Twenty-one patients suffering from difficult to control complex partial seizures participated; 18 patients completed the trial. Serum levels of concomitant antiepileptic drugs were kept constant throughout the trial. Three patients (17%) experienced a 75% reduction in seizure frequency and in 8 (44%) the seizures were reduced by at least 50%. Two patients developed a moderate and 1 patient a marked increase in seizure frequency during treatment with gamma-vinyl GABA. Except for 2 patients who had to discontinue the trial because of adverse effects of gamma-vinyl GABA, the participants were unable to discriminate between treatment regimens with regard to side effects. gamma-vinyl GABA seems to be a promising new antiepileptic drug, and the first one to present convincing evidence of a GABAergic mechanism of action.

Ultrastructural identification of somata and neural processes immunoreactive to antibodies against glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the cat

Abstract: The cat dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) was examined at the light- and electron-microscopic level after immunocytochemistry for GAD (the synthesizing enzyme of the inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA), to identify cells and processes with GAD-like immunoreactivity. GAD-positive perikarya were distributed throughout the A and C laminae, constituting a moderate proportion of cells in the LGN. Labeled cells were characterized by small size, scant cytoplasm, relatively large nuclei with common indentations, small mitochondria, few organelles and few strands of rough endoplasmic reticulum. Unlabeled cells were of large, medium and small size. GAD-positive terminals were identified as F1 and F2 types (Guillery's nomenclature) on the basis of their synaptic relations and ultrastructure. Labeled F2 terminals were postsynaptic to retinal (RLP) boutons and presynaptic to unlabeled dendrites in synaptic glomeruli. Labeled F1 terminals made synapses on unlabeled somata and dendrites, and on labeled dendrites and F2 terminals. Presumably, most labeled F1 terminals originate from GABAergic perigeniculate axons. Retinal (RLP) and cortico-geniculate (RSD) boutons remained unlabeled in the reative zone. These terminals made synapses with labeled and unlabeled dendrites and with labeled F2 boutons. In conjunction with previous studies on GAD-positive cells in the perigeniculate nucleus, these results provide immunocytochemical and morphological evidence suggesting that the GABAergic intrinsic and extrinsic (perigeniculate) interneurons mediate the different inhibitory phenomena which occur in relay cells of the cat LGN. The ultrastructural features and synaptic relations of GABAergic cells and processes in the cat LGN are similar to those of equivalent neural elements in the LGN of rat and monkey, suggesting general principles of organization and morphology for GABAergic neurons in the thalamus of different mammals.

Cultured neurons as model systems for biochemical and pharmacological studies on receptors for neurotransmitter amino acids.

Abstract: By the use of primary cultures of neurons consisting of cerebral cortex interneurons or cerebellar granule cells it is possible to study biochemical and pharmacological aspects of receptors for GABA and glutamate. Cerebellar granule cells have been shown to express both high- and low-affinity GABA receptors. The latter ones develop, however, only when the neurons are treated with GABA or GABA receptor agonists. It is suggested that the high-affinity receptors play a role in the neurotrophic activity of GABA, whereas the low-affinity GABA receptors are involved in the mediation of the inhibitory action of GABA on evoked release of glutamate, which is the neurotransmitter in cerebellar granule cells. Also glutamate receptors have been studied with regard to the 2 types of neurons. Both cerebral cortex neurons (GABAergic) and cerebellar granule cells (glutamatergic) possess glutamate receptors, which mediate an L-glutamate-induced transmitter release. The pharmacological properties of these glutamate receptors are, however, distinctly different for the 2 types of neurons. While cerebral cortex neurons express both quisqualate-, N-methyl-D-aspartate- and kainate-receptors, the cerebellar granule cells have a receptor which is activated only by L-glutamate and L-aspartate.

Evidence for two types of GABA-containing interneurons in the A-laminae of the cat lateral geniculate nucleus: a double-label HRP and GABA-immunocytochemical study.

Abstract: Neurons containing GABA immunoreactivity were analyzed in the A-laminae of normal cat LGN and of LGN retrogradely labeled with HRP from the visual cortex. In contrast to retrograde labeling of relay cells, GABA+ cells were devoid of HRP label, providing additional evidence for the interneuronal nature of GABAergic cells in the cat LGN. Cell body area measurements showed that the population of GABA+ cells is composed of a large proportion of small (β) cells and a smaller proportion of medium size (a) cells. The proportion of α GABA+ cells increases from medial to lateral parts of the A-laminae, resembling a similar medio-lateral increase of physiologically defined Y cells and of morphologically defined type 1 cells in these laminae. This suggests that the α and β GABAergic cells are related to the Y and X geniculo-cortical relay cells, respectively.

Dual ultrastructural localization of two neurotransmitter-related antigens: colloidal gold-labeled neurophysin-immunoreactive supraoptic neurons receive peroxidase-labeled glutamate decarboxylase- or gold- labeled GABA-immunoreactive synapses

Abstract: To study the morphological substrate for interaction between two chemically distinct neuronal types, two double ultrastructural immunolabeling strategies were employed. In the first, two different electron-dense markers were used to examine simultaneously two different neurotransmitter-related antigens in the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus in the same thin section. Results obtained with the first method were confirmed with a second approach based on postembedding immunostaining of alternate serial thin sections with different antisera. Antiserum against glutamate decarboxylase, the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of the inhibitory amino acid transmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), or antisera against GABA, was used to localize immunoreactive axons in the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus. With light microscopy, glutamate decarboxylase- and GABA-immunoreactive axon terminals immunostained with peroxidase were found arborizing throughout all areas of the nucleus; terminal boutons were found adjacent to unlabeled somata within the nucleus. Cells containing immunoreactive oxytocin, vasopressin, and neurophysin were localized with peroxidase. Glutamate decarboxylase-immunoreactive axons stained with peroxidase prior to embedding in plastic were demonstrated to contact neurons which contained vesicles immunostained with neurophysin antiserum by a post-embedding immunocytochemical procedure which used immunoglobulins or protein A adsorbed to colloidal gold as a second ultrastructural marker. Quantitative evaluation of post- embedding staining with colloidal gold using a neurophysin primary antiserum indicated a specific antigen localization in neurosecretory vesicles. A critical factor in this double-labeling paradigm was that immunological reagents used in the second series did not cross-react with those used in the first series, regardless of the species of origin of antisera. To provide further verification of GABAergic synapses on neurophysin-containing neurons, alternate serial ultrathin sections were stained with colloidal gold using antisera against either neurophysin or GABA; boutons immunoreactive for GABA made synaptic contact with supraoptic neurons containing neurophysin immunoreactivity. Converging results obtained with these two procedures indicate that GABAergic axons synapse directly on neurons containing oxytocin or vasopressin in the rat hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Glutamic acid decarboxylase in the striate cortex of normal and monocularly deprived kittens

Abstract: Degeneration of the thalamic fibers in the visual cortex of turtles leads to an increase in the numerical density of cortical synapses with flattened vesicles and symmetrical membrane differentiations (Smith, L. M., and F. F. Ebner (1980) Soc. Neurosci. Abstr. 6: 328). This change correlates with an increase in the cortical activity of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the synthetic enzyme for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). These data are consistent with the hypothesis that removal of thalamic input activity is the stimulus for cortical GABAergic neurons to form new synapses. Pharmacological evidence suggests that even simple environmental deprivation may induce a similar increase in the numerical density of GABAergic synapses in kitten striate cortex (Duffy, F. H., S. R., Snodgrass, J. L. Burchfiel, and J. L. Conway (1976) Nature 260: 256–257). We have examined this possibility in monocularly deprived kittens using methods to localize and measure GAD. GAD in kitten striate cortex was localized using immunocytochemistry. GAD-positive cells were found in all layers and were uniformly distributed in layers II to VI. Immunoreactivity associated with axon terminals (puncta), in contrast, was laminated with a distinct band in layer IV. Monocular deprivation (MD), by either unilateral enucleation or lid closure, had no detectable effect on the distribution of GAD in striate cortex. The band of layer IV puncta remained uniform even under conditions that produced alterations in layer IV cytochrome oxidase activity. We measured GAD activity in homogenates of striate cortex to address the possibility that MD causes an absolute change in the density of GABAergic synapses. Again, however, GAD activity in the binocular and monocular segments of striate cortex was found to be unaffected by early enucleation. These data suggest two conclusions: first, that the numerical density of GABAergic synapses in visual cortex is not regulated directly by thalamic activity, and second, that changes in GABAergic synapse density do not account for the ocular dominance shift observed in kitten striate cortex after MD.

Antisera to y-Aminobutyric Acid.

Abstract: An antiserum to y-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was tested for the localization of GABAergic neurons in the central nervous system using the unlabeled antibody enzyme method under pre- and postembedding conditions. GABA immunostaining was compared with glutamate decarboxylase (GAD) immunoreactivity in the cerebellar cortex and in normal and colchicine-injected neocortex and hippocampus of cat. The types, distribution, and proportion of neurons and nerve terminals stained with either sera showed good agreement in all areas. Colchicine treatment had littie effect on the density of GABA-immunoreactive cells but increased the number ofGAD-positive cells to the level of GABA-positive neurons in normal tissue. GABA immunoreactivity was abolished by solid phase adsorption to