Enhancement of GABA-activated membrane currents in aged Fischer 344 rat basal forebrain neurons.

abstract

• Changes in GABAergic systems have been widely documented during development. Similar changes might also occur during aging, but little information is currently available. Whole-cell and single-channel GABAA-activated currents were studied in acutely dissociated basal forebrain neurons. An age-related increase in whole-cell GABA currents was observed in cells from aged (19-25 month) Fischer 344 rats. The GABA current from aged animals displayed a greater maximum response, with no change in EC50 or slope of the GABA response curve. A reduction in use-dependent slow receptor desensitization was also observed in aged cells. Single-channel conductance and channel open time were unchanged with age, suggesting no alteration in the properties of single GABA channels. The benzodiazepine, midazolam, potentiated GABA currents to a greater degree in aged animals, consistent with previous reports of enhanced benzodiazepine activity with age. Ontogeny of the GABAA receptor/ion channel complex may continue through the stages of development, maturation, and aging.

authors

• Griffith, William

published proceedings

• J Neurosci

author list (cited authors)

• Griffith, W. H., & Murchison, D. A.

citation count

• 44

complete list of authors

• Griffith, WH||Murchison, DA

publication date

• March 1995

publisher

• Society for Neuroscience  Publisher

keywords

• Action Potentials
• Aging
• Animals
• Bicuculline
• Drug Synergism
• Gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
• Ion Channel Gating
• Lanthanum
• Midazolam
• Pentobarbital
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred F344
• Receptors, GABA-A
• Septum Pellucidum
• Tetrodotoxin
• Zinc

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

• 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.15-03-02407.1995

start page

• 2407

end page

• 2416

volume

• 15

issue

• 3 Pt 2

URL

• http://dx.doi.org/10.1523/jneurosci.15-03-02407.1995