Activity- and age-dependent modulation of GABAergic neurotransmission by system A-mediated glutamine uptake.

ABSTRACT: GABAergic neurotransmission adapts to maintain normal brain function in a wide range of activity states through multiple mechanisms; pre-synaptic control of quantal size has only recently gained recognition as one of those mechanisms. GABA synthesis from glutamate is coupled with vesicular packaging, and therefore the supply of glutamate can affect inhibitory synaptic strength. Because System A transporters supply glutamine to neurons, where it is converted to glutamate, we hypothesized that regulation of the activity of these transporters could alter glutamine uptake and provide a mechanism to link supply to demand for neurotransmitter GABA. In immature and mature rat hippocampus, after a period of hyperexcitability, we observed a System A-dependent enhancement of inhibitory synaptic stre

SUBMITTER: Brown MN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2910168 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature