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Which GABAA Receptor Subunits Are Necessary for Tonic Inhibition in the Hippocampus?
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Which GABAA Receptor Subunits Are Necessary for Tonic Inhibition in the Hippocampus?

Joseph Glykys, Edward O Mann and Istvan Mody
The Journal of neuroscience, Vol.28(6), pp.1421-1426
02/06/2008
DOI: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4751-07.2008
PMID: 18256262
url
https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4751-07.2008View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

GABA A receptors (GABA A Rs) assembled of different subunits mediate tonic and phasic inhibition in hippocampal neurons. CA1/CA3 pyramidal cells (PCs) predominantly express α5 subunits whereas dentate gyrus granule cells (DGGCs) and molecular layer (ML) interneurons predominantly express δ subunits. Both α5- and δ-containing GABA A Rs mediate tonic inhibition. We have shown previously that mice lacking α5 subunits ( Gabra5 −/− ) have a residual tonic current in CA1/CA3 PCs because of an upregulation of δ subunits, but the basis of the residual tonic current in DGGCs and ML interneurons of mice lacking the δ subunit ( Gabrd −/− ) is still unknown. We now show that wild-type DGGCs have a small tonic current mediated by α5 subunit-containing GABA A Rs responsible for ∼29% of the total tonic current. To better identify the GABA A Rs mediating tonic inhibition in hippocampal neurons, we generated mice lacking both α5 and δ subunits ( Gabra5/Gabrd −/− ). Recordings from CA1/CA3 PCs, DGGCs, and ML interneurons in these mice show an absence of tonic currents without compensatory changes in spontaneous IPSCs (sIPSCs), sEPSCs, and membrane resistance. The absence of tonic inhibition results in spontaneous gamma oscillations recordable in vitro in the CA3 pyramidal layer of these mice, which can be mimicked in wild-type mice by blocking α5 subunit-containing GABA A Rs with 50 n m L-655,708. In conclusion, depending on the cell type, the α5 and δ subunits are the principal GABA A R subunits responsible for mediating the lion's share of tonic inhibition in hippocampal neurons.
tonic inhibition α5 δ hippocampus Brief Communications gamma oscillations phasic inhibition

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