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GABAB Receptor-Mediated Inhibition of Synaptic Transmission in the Hippocampus: Pharmacology and Intracellular Mechanisms

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Presynaptic Receptors in the Mammalian Brain

Abstract

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system that affects cellular excitability by opening or closing a variety of ion channels or by modulating a number of intracellular messengers. Some actions of GABA are associated with an increase in membrane conductance to Cl- ions and are antagonized by the GABA antagonists bicuculline and Picrotoxin. Receptors mediating these effects are referred to as GABAA receptors and have been investigated intensively, especially because of their close association to the benzodiazepine and barbiturate binding sites. More recently, presynaptic bicuculline-insensitive actions of GABA have been discovered by Bowery and his colleagues, who opened up a new field of investigation (see Bowery, 1982). These actions are mediated by GABAB receptors, which are specifically activated by the GABAB agonists baclofen and 3-aminopropylphosphonic acid. We describe in this chapter recent data concerning the presynaptic actions mediated by GABAB receptors in the hippocampus. We first briefly summarize the better known postsynaptic effects of GABAB receptor activation.

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Authors
  1. Patrick Dutar
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  2. Roger A. Nicoll
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. V.A. Medical Center, 80220, Denver, CO, USA

    Thomas V. Dunwiddie

  2. Department of Pharmacology C-236, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 80220, Denver, CO, USA

    Thomas V. Dunwiddie

  3. Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, 37232, Nashville, TN, USA

    David M. Lovinger

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© 1993 Birkhäuser Boston

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Dutar, P., Nicoll, R.A. (1993). GABAB Receptor-Mediated Inhibition of Synaptic Transmission in the Hippocampus: Pharmacology and Intracellular Mechanisms. In: Dunwiddie, T.V., Lovinger, D.M. (eds) Presynaptic Receptors in the Mammalian Brain. Birkhäuser Boston. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-6825-0_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-6825-0_2

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser Boston

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-6827-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-6825-0

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