R. Macdonald - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by R. Macdonald
The Journal of Physiology, 2007
Up-regulation of the GABA A receptor α4 subunit subtype has been consistently shown in multiple a... more Up-regulation of the GABA A receptor α4 subunit subtype has been consistently shown in multiple animal models of chronic epilepsy. This isoform is expressed in both thalamus and hippocampus and is likely to play a significant role in regulating corticothalamic and hippocampal rhythms. However, little is known about its physiological properties, thus limiting understanding of the role of α4 subtype-containing GABA A receptors in normal and abnormal physiology. We used rapid GABA application to recombinant GABA A receptors expressed in HEK293T cells to compare the macroscopic kinetic properties of α4β3γ2L receptors to those of the more widely distributed α1β3γ2L receptors. These receptor currents had similar peak current amplitudes and GABA EC 50 values. However, α4β3γ2L currents activated more slowly when exposed to submaximal GABA concentrations, had more fast desensitization (τ = 15-100 ms), and had less residual current during long GABA applications. In addition, α4β3γ2L currents deactivated more slowly than α1β3γ2L currents. Peak currents evoked by repetitive, brief GABA applications were more strongly attenuated for α4β3γ2L currents than α1β3γ2L currents. Moreover, the time required to recover from desensitization was prolonged in α4β3γ2L currents compared to α1β3γ2L currents. We also found that exposure to prolonged low levels of GABA, similar to those that might be present in the extrasynaptic space, greatly suppressed the response of α4β3γ2L currents to higher concentrations of GABA, while α1β3γ2L currents were less affected by exposure to low levels of GABA. Taken together, these data suggest that α4β3γ2L receptors have unique kinetic properties that limit the range of GABA applications to which they can respond maximally. While similar to α1β3γ2L receptors in their ability to respond to brief and low frequency synaptic inputs, α4β3γ2L receptors are less efficacious when exposed to prolonged tonic GABA or during repetitive stimulation, as may occur during learning and seizures.
The Journal of Physiology, 2007
Up-regulation of the GABA A receptor α4 subunit subtype has been consistently shown in multiple a... more Up-regulation of the GABA A receptor α4 subunit subtype has been consistently shown in multiple animal models of chronic epilepsy. This isoform is expressed in both thalamus and hippocampus and is likely to play a significant role in regulating corticothalamic and hippocampal rhythms. However, little is known about its physiological properties, thus limiting understanding of the role of α4 subtype-containing GABA A receptors in normal and abnormal physiology. We used rapid GABA application to recombinant GABA A receptors expressed in HEK293T cells to compare the macroscopic kinetic properties of α4β3γ2L receptors to those of the more widely distributed α1β3γ2L receptors. These receptor currents had similar peak current amplitudes and GABA EC 50 values. However, α4β3γ2L currents activated more slowly when exposed to submaximal GABA concentrations, had more fast desensitization (τ = 15-100 ms), and had less residual current during long GABA applications. In addition, α4β3γ2L currents deactivated more slowly than α1β3γ2L currents. Peak currents evoked by repetitive, brief GABA applications were more strongly attenuated for α4β3γ2L currents than α1β3γ2L currents. Moreover, the time required to recover from desensitization was prolonged in α4β3γ2L currents compared to α1β3γ2L currents. We also found that exposure to prolonged low levels of GABA, similar to those that might be present in the extrasynaptic space, greatly suppressed the response of α4β3γ2L currents to higher concentrations of GABA, while α1β3γ2L currents were less affected by exposure to low levels of GABA. Taken together, these data suggest that α4β3γ2L receptors have unique kinetic properties that limit the range of GABA applications to which they can respond maximally. While similar to α1β3γ2L receptors in their ability to respond to brief and low frequency synaptic inputs, α4β3γ2L receptors are less efficacious when exposed to prolonged tonic GABA or during repetitive stimulation, as may occur during learning and seizures.