gamma-aminobutyric acid transporter-mediated current from bipolar cells in tiger salamander retinal slices

Vision Res. 1998 Sep;38(17):2521-6. doi: 10.1016/s0042-6989(98)00100-x.

Abstract

About 10% of bipolar cells in salamander retina synthesize and take up gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and may use GABA as a neurotransmitter. As GABA uptake is electrogenic, bipolar cells expressing GABA transporters (GATs) should give transport current (IGAT) to extracellular GABA. Using whole-cell patch recording, 28 bipolar cells responded to 30-200 microM GABA puffed to the axon terminals with a picrotoxin (PTX)-sensitive chloride current (ICI) only. Another three bipolar cells had, in addition to ICI, a PTX-resistant, sodium-dependent current that was completely and reversibly blocked by NO-711, an IGAT inhibitor, indicating that this component was an IGAT. This finding provides further support for a subset of GABAergic bipolar cells in the salamander retina.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carrier Proteins / analysis
  • Carrier Proteins / metabolism*
  • GABA Antagonists / pharmacology
  • GABA Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Ion Channels / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / analysis
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Membrane Transport Proteins*
  • Nipecotic Acids / pharmacology
  • Organic Anion Transporters*
  • Oximes / pharmacology
  • Patch-Clamp Techniques
  • Picrotoxin / pharmacology
  • Retina / cytology
  • Retina / metabolism*
  • Sodium / metabolism
  • Urodela / metabolism*
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism*
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / pharmacology

Substances

  • Carrier Proteins
  • GABA Antagonists
  • GABA Plasma Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Ion Channels
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Membrane Transport Proteins
  • Nipecotic Acids
  • Organic Anion Transporters
  • Oximes
  • Picrotoxin
  • NNC 711
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Sodium