GABA(A) receptors can initiate the formation of functional inhibitory GABAergic synapses.

ABSTRACT: The mechanisms that underlie the selection of an inhibitory GABAergic axon's postsynaptic targets and the formation of the first contacts are currently unknown. To determine whether expression of GABAA receptors (GABAA Rs) themselves--the essential functional postsynaptic components of GABAergic synapses--can be sufficient to initiate formation of synaptic contacts, a novel co-culture system was devised. In this system, the presynaptic GABAergic axons originated from embryonic rat basal ganglia medium spiny neurones, whereas their most prevalent postsynaptic targets, i.e., α1/β2/γ2-GABAA Rs, were expressed constitutively in a stably transfected human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK293) cell line. The first synapse-like contacts in these co-cultures were detected by colocalization of presynaptic

SUBMITTER: Fuchs C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4028986 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature