Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0011570 (depression)
172,036 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Mutual synaptic interactions between GABAergic interneurons are thought to be of critical importance for the generation of network oscillations and for temporal encoding of information in the hippocampus. However, the functional properties of synaptic transmission between hippocampal interneurons are largely unknown. We have made paired recordings from basket cells (BCs) in the dentate gyrus of rat hippocampal slices, followed by correlated light and electron microscopical analysis. Unitary GABA(A) receptor-mediated IPSCs at BC-BC synapses recorded at the soma showed a fast rise and decay, with a mean decay time constant of 2.5 +/- 0.2 msec (32 degrees C). Synaptic transmission at BC-BC synapses showed paired-pulse depression (PPD) (32 +/- 5% for 10 msec interpulse intervals) and multiple-pulse depression during repetitive stimulation. Detailed passive cable model simulations based on somatodendritic morphology and localization of synaptic contacts further indicated that the conductance change at the postsynaptic site was even faster, decaying with a mean time constant of 1.8 +/- 0.6 msec. Sequential triple recordings revealed that the decay time course of IPSCs at BC-BC synapses was approximately twofold faster than that at BC-granule cell synapses, whereas the extent of PPD was comparable. To examine the consequences of the fast postsynaptic conductance change for the generation of oscillatory activity, we developed a computational model of an interneuron network. The model showed robust oscillations at frequencies >60 Hz if the excitatory drive was sufficiently large. Thus the fast conductance change at interneuron-interneuron synapses may promote the generation of high-frequency oscillations observed in the dentate gyrus in vivo.
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PMID:Rapid signaling at inhibitory synapses in a dentate gyrus interneuron network. 1130 22

Short-term plasticity, the effect of a preceding synaptic response on the following response in a pair, in layers II/III of the rat auditory cortex slice after application of repetitive stimuli to layer IV, was investigated using a multichannel extracellular recording system. Paired-pulse depression, which is induced to a moderate degree in standard artificial cerebrospinal fluid, was markedly facilitated in the presence of bicuculline, a GABA(A) receptor antagonist, concurrent with the emergence of a polysynaptic component of the EPSP (polyEPSP) in the first response in a pair. This depression (bicuculline-facilitated synaptic depression, BFSD) was maximal at the minimum interval tested (50 ms), reduced as the interval was increased, and persisted beyond an interval of 2 s. The occurrence of BFSD was dependent on the presence of a polyEPSP regardless of the presence of the monosynaptic component of the EPSP, indicating that BFSD is induced by a heterosynaptic mechanism. D-AP5, an NMDA receptor antagonist, partially eliminated polyEPSPs and reversed BFSD. These results suggest that activation of polysynaptic excitatory pathways induces a heterosynaptic depression in the range of a few seconds and that NMDA receptor activity is involved in this heterosynaptic depression.
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PMID:Polysynaptic excitatory pathways induce heterosynaptic depression in the rat auditory cortex. 1131 7

The excessive neuronal excitation underlying several clinically important diseases is often treated with GABA allosteric modulators in an attempt to enhance inhibition. An alternative strategy would be to enhance directly the sensitivity of postsynaptic neurons to GABA. The GABA(C) receptor, normally found only in the retina, is more sensitive to GABA and demonstrates little desensitization compared with the GABA(A) receptor. We constructed an adenovirus vector that expressed cDNA for both the GABA(C) receptor rho(1) subunit and a green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter and used it to transduce cultured hippocampal neurons. Transduced neurons were identified by fluorescence, double immunocytochemistry proved colocalization of the rho(1) protein and the reporter, Western blot verified the expected molecular masses, and electrophysiological and pharmacological properties confirmed the presence of functional GABA(C) receptors. rho(1)-GFP transduction resulted in an increased density of GABA(A) receptors as well as expression of novel GABA(C) receptors. This effect was not reproduced by addition of TTX or Mg(2+) to the culture medium to reduce action potentials or synaptic activity. In a model of neuronal hyperexcitability induced by chronic blockade of glutamate receptors, expression of GABA(C) receptors abolished the hyperactivity and the consequent delayed neuronal death. Adenovirus-mediated neuronal GABA(C) receptor engineering, via its dual mechanism of inhibition, may offer a way of inhibiting only those hyperexcitable neurons responsible for clinical problems, avoiding the generalized nervous system depression associated with pharmacological therapy.
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PMID:Suppression of neuronal hyperexcitability and associated delayed neuronal death by adenoviral expression of GABA(C) receptors. 1133 72

Remodelling of visual maps in the superior colliculus (SC) depends on neuronal activity. Synaptic inhibition could contribute to this process because spontaneous spike discharge in the SC was modulated by GABA(A) receptor activation at postnatal days (P) 1-3. To investigate the functional capacity of GABAergic synaptic transmission at this early stage of development, whole-cell patch-clamp recordings were made from wide field neurons (WFNs) in horizontal slices comprising the superficial grey layer of the SC. Focal stimulation in the vicinity of WFNs evoked tetrodotoxin-sensitive stimulus-locked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (eIPSCs). The failure rate of eIPSCs was low ( approximately 0.2), and the maximal amplitude of evoked unitary eIPSCs exceeded the amplitude of average miniature IPSCs (mIPSCs) by a factor of 4-5, suggesting that action potential-mediated GABA release was more effective than spontaneous release. Some of the properties of GABAergic synaptic transmission in the neonatal SC were age-specific. In contrast with eIPSCs in the more mature SC at P20-22, neonatal eIPSCs decayed more slowly, preferentially fluctuated in duration, not amplitude, and mostly lacked temporal summation, due to depression at shorter intervals. The paired-pulse ratio (eIPSC2 : eIPSC1) was inversely related to the duration of eIPSCs. PCR analysis showed, in addition, that the ratio of alpha1 : alpha3 subunit expression was lower in the neonatal SC. Together, these results suggest that, at a young age, efficacy of GABAergic synaptic transmission is primarily constrained by the slow kinetics and the saturation of postsynaptic GABA(A) receptors.
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PMID:Slow IPSC kinetics, low levels of alpha1 subunit expression and paired-pulse depression are distinct properties of neonatal inhibitory GABAergic synaptic connections in the mouse superior colliculus. 1142 49

Slabs of slow-release plastic (Elvax) containing NMDA or solvent were implanted over the rat colliculus beginning on postnatal day 8 (P8). Whole-cell patch clamping in the superficial superior collicular layers (sSCs) from P10 to P21 demonstrated a severe decrease in spontaneous EPSC frequency after chronic NMDA treatment. The decrease was not attributable to an increase in GABA(A) receptor-mediated inhibition and was present only when NMDA receptor (NMDAR) current was blocked by Mg(2+). Analysis of miniature EPSCs indicated that many active sites on NMDA-treated neurons lacked functional AMPA and kainate receptor (AMPA/KAR) currents, and AMPA/KAR:NMDAR current ratios of evoked EPSCs were also significantly reduced. In addition, the normal downregulation of NMDAR decay time in sSC neurons at P11 was absent after NMDA treatment. Nevertheless, neither AMPA nor NMDA receptor subunit expression was altered by NMDA treatment, and experiments with the NMDAR antagonist ifenprodil suggested that incorporation of NR2A-containing NMDARs at the sSC synapses was unperturbed. Thus, disrupting but not blocking NMDARs suppresses the development of AMPA/KAR currents. The absence of the P11 NMDAR current downregulation is likely a secondary effect resulting from the reduction of AMPA/KAR function. Chronic agonist application reduces but does not eliminate NMDAR conductances. Therefore these data support an active role for NMDAR currents in synaptic development. Prolonged NMDA treatment in vivo, which couples reduced postsynaptic Ca(2+) responses with normally developing afferent activity, produces a long-lasting synaptic depression and stalls glutamatergic synaptogenesis, suggesting that the correlation between robust NMDAR activation and afferent activity is an essential component during normal development.
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PMID:Developmental depression of glutamate neurotransmission by chronic low-level activation of NMDA receptors. 1148 46

The mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effects of dopamine (DA) on layer V pyramidal neuron excitability in the prelimbic region of the rat medial prefrontal cortex were investigated. Under control conditions, DA depressed both action potential generation (driven by somatic current injection) and input resistance (R(N)). The presence of GABA(A) receptor antagonists blocked DA-induced depression of action potential generation and revealed a delayed increase in excitability that persisted for the duration of experimental recording, up to 20 min following the washout of DA. In contrast to spike generation, disinhibition did not affect the transient depression of R(N) produced by DA, suggesting independent actions of DA on spike generation and R(N). Consistent with the hypothesis that DA acts to decrease pyramidal cell output via a GABAergic mechanism, DA increased the frequency of spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents in both the absence and presence of TTX. Furthermore focal application of GABA to a perisomatic region mimicked the inhibitory effect of DA on spike production without affecting R(N). Focal application of bicuculline to the same location reversed the inhibitory effect of bath-applied DA on spike generation, while again having no effect on R(N). The depression of R(N) by DA was both occluded and mimicked by the Na(+) channel blocker TTX, suggesting the involvement of a Na(+) conductance in reducing pyramidal cell R(N) during the acute presence of DA. Together these data demonstrate that the acute presence of DA decreases pyramidal neuron excitability by two independent mechanisms. At the same time DA triggers a delayed and longer-lasting increase in excitability that is partially masked by synaptic inhibition.
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PMID:Multiple effects of dopamine on layer V pyramidal cell excitability in rat prefrontal cortex. 1149 34

Field recordings of responses to activation of corticostriatal afferents were made in coronally sectioned rat brain slices. Each recording site was categorized according to its medial to lateral and rostral to caudal position to investigate anatomical differences in synaptic plasticity. Individual responses were highly variable exhibiting extremes of tetanus induced depression and potentiation. Consequently, averaging masked the capacity of these synapses to express long-term forms of plasticity. Block of GABA(A) inhibition and elimination of dopaminergic input with 6-hydroxydopamine lesions both acted to increase the expression of potentiation, but again considerable variability was observed. Separation of recordings into medial and lateral groups revealed clear anatomical trends which contributed to the variability observed in the total sample. Paired-pulse, post-tetanic and long-term potentiation was greater in medial than in lateral groups in normal artificial cerebral spinal fluid. Similar tendencies were seen after block of GABA(A) receptors with bicuculline. 6-Hydroxydopamine lesions in combination with bicuculline treatment reduced medial to lateral differences. Factoring in medial to lateral trends revealed block of GABA(A) receptor mediated inhibition had its greatest effect on medial corticostriatal responses and 6-hydroxydopamine lesions had their greatest effect on lateral responses. From these data we suggest anatomical variation in striatal circuitry may underlie regional differences in synaptic plasticity evoked by corticostriatal activation.
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PMID:Regional differences in the expression of corticostriatal synaptic plasticity. 1156 20

Long-term potentiation of the hippocampal-septal pathway was examined by intracellular recording techniques. High frequency stimulation (two 100-Hz 1-s trains with a 20-s interval between them) of the hippocampal CA3 area resulted in a transient depolarization in rat lateral septal nucleus neurons. High frequency stimulation was followed by a facilitation of fast and slow inhibitory postsynaptic potentials, lasting for more than 2 h, but not by a long-lasting increase in the excitatory postsynaptic potential in the normal solution. Long-term potentiation (>2 h) of the excitatory postsynaptic potential did not appear in 74% of neurons tested, even when the fast inhibitory postsynaptic potential was blocked by bicuculline (30 microM), a GABA(A) receptor antagonist. High frequency stimulation produced long-term potentiation of the excitatory postsynaptic potential in the Mg(2+)-free solution containing bicuculline. When the fast and slow inhibitory postsynaptic potentials were blocked by GABA(A) and GABA(B) receptor antagonists (bicuculline and CGP 55845A respectively), high frequency stimulation produced a large and sustained depolarization followed by long-term potentiation of the excitatory postsynaptic potential. However, the excitatory postsynaptic potential was not enhanced by administration of these drugs after termination of high frequency stimulation. Pretreatment with 2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoate, a NMDA receptor antagonist, resulted in loss of long-term potentiation in both sets of experiments. Paired-pulse stimulation of the hippocampal CA3 region with interstimulus intervals between 200 and 800 ms depressed the second excitatory postsynaptic potential in the presence of bicuculline. CGP 35348, a GABA(B) receptor antagonist, reversed the depression of excitatory postsynaptic potentials to facilitation. These data suggest that high frequency stimulation of hippocampal CA3 neurons enhances the efficacy of GABAergic inhibitory circuits which, in turn, depress the ability of lateral septal nucleus neurons to express long-term potentiation.
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PMID:Activation of inhibitory pathways suppresses the induction of long-term potentiation in neurons of the rat lateral septal nucleus. 1167 2

GABAergic systems have been implicated in the pathogenesis of anxiety, depression and insomnia. These symptoms are part of the core and comorbid psychiatric disturbances in post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In a sample of Caucasian male PTSD patients, dinucleotide repeat polymorphisms of the GABA(A) receptor beta 3 subunit gene were compared to scores on the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ). As the major allele at this gene locus (GABRB3) was G1, the alleles were divided into G1 and non-G1 groups. On the total score of the GHQ, which comprises the somatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction and depression subscales, patients with the G1 non-G1 genotype had a significantly higher score when compared to either the G1G1 genotype (alpha=0.01) or the non-G1 non-G1 genotype (alpha=0.05). No significant difference was found between the G1G1 and non-G1 non-G1 genotypes. When the G1 non-G1 heterozygotes were compared to the combined G1G1 and non-G1 non-G1 homozygotes, a significantly higher total GHQ score was found in the heterozygotes (P=0.002). These observations suggest a heterosis effect. Further analysis of GHQ subscale scores showed that heterozygotes compared to the combined homozygotes had higher scores on the somatic symptoms (P=0.006), anxiety/insomnia (P=0.003), social dysfunction (P=0.054) and depression (P=0.004) subscales. In conclusion, the present study indicates that in a population of PTSD patients, heterozygosity of the GABRB3 major (G1) allele confers higher levels of somatic symptoms, anxiety/insomnia, social dysfunction and depression than found in homozygosity.
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PMID:GABA(A) receptor beta 3 subunit gene and psychiatric morbidity in a post-traumatic stress disorder population. 1171 Nov 65

Besides their binding to cognate intracellular receptors gonadal steroids may also act as functional antagonists at the 5-HT3 receptor. A structure-activity relationship for the actions of a variety of steroids at the 5-HT3 receptor was elaborated that differed considerably from that known for GABA(A) receptors. Steroids appear to interact allosterically with ligand-gated ion channels at the receptor membrane interface. The functional antagonism of gonadal steroids at the 5-HT3 receptor may play a role for the development and course of nausea during pregnancy and of psychiatric disorders. Moreover, we could demonstrate that 3alpha-reduced neuroactive steroids concurrently modulate the GABA(A) receptor and regulate gene expression via the progesterone receptor after intracellular oxidation. Animal studies showed that progesterone is converted rapidly into GABAergic neuroactive steroids in vivo. Progesterone reduces locomotor activity in a dose dependent fashion in male Wister rats. Moreover, progesterone and 3alpha,5alpha-tetrahydroprogesterone produce a benzodiazepine-like sleep EEG profile in rats and humans. In addition, there is a dysequilibrium of such 3alpha-reduced neuroactive steroids during major depression which is corrected by successful treatment with antidepressants. Neuroactive steroids may further be involved in the treatment of depression and anxiety with antidepressants in patients during ethanol withdrawal. First studies in patients with panic disorder suggest that neuroactive steroids may also play a pivotal role in human anxiety. The genomic and non-genomic effects of steroids in the brain contribute to the pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders and the mechanisms of action of antidepressants. Neuroactive steroids affect a broad spectrum of behavioral functions through their unique molecular properties and may constitute a yet unexploited class of drugs.
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PMID:Neuroactive steroids: molecular mechanisms of action and implications for neuropsychopharmacology. 1174 74


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