Differential expression of an inwardly rectifying chloride conductance in rat brain neurons: a potential mechanism for cell-specific modulation of postsynaptic inhibition

J Neurosci. 1995 May;15(5 Pt 2):4057-67. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.15-05-04057.1995.

Abstract

A voltage-sensitive inwardly rectifying chloride (Cl-) conductance (GCl(V) is present in hippocampal pyramidal but not dentate gyrus neurons and has a significant role in modulation of neuronal inhibition by GABA. GCl(V) has the same activation properties as the cloned and expressed Cl- channel CIC-2. In brain, CIC-2 was detected selectively in neurons, and in hippocampus was detected in the same populations of neurons that demonstrate GCl(V). CIC-2 mRNA expression varied widely in different neuronal populations in brain but was greatest in pyramidal and other large neurons and least in interneurons. The observed differential expression of CIC-2 provides a potential molecular basis for the paradoxical excitation produced by GABAA receptor activation in selected neuronal populations.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Brain / metabolism
  • Brain / physiology*
  • CLC-2 Chloride Channels
  • Cell Communication
  • Chloride Channels / biosynthesis*
  • Chloride Channels / physiology
  • DNA Primers
  • Electric Conductivity
  • Gene Expression*
  • Interneurons / physiology
  • Membrane Potentials
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / biosynthesis*
  • Neurons / drug effects
  • Neurons / metabolism
  • Neurons / physiology*
  • Oligonucleotide Probes
  • Organ Specificity
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Pyramidal Cells / physiology
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Rats
  • Spinal Cord / physiology
  • Synapses / drug effects
  • Synapses / physiology*

Substances

  • CLC-2 Chloride Channels
  • Chloride Channels
  • DNA Primers
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • Oligonucleotide Probes
  • RNA, Messenger