GABA-A antagonist causes dramatic expansion of tuning in primary auditory cortex

Neuroreport. 2000 Apr 7;11(5):1137-40. doi: 10.1097/00001756-200004070-00045.

Abstract

Responses from 80 neurons in primary auditory cortex of anesthetized chinchillas were investigated before and during iontophoresis of bicuculline (BIC), a GABA-A antagonist. BIC caused a significant increase in the spontaneous discharge rate (SR) and driven firing rate in most neurons. Threshold decreased in many neurons and the excitatory response area expanded significantly above and below the neuron's characteristic frequency (CF). These results indicate that many neurons in primary auditory cortex receive excitatory inputs from a much broader frequency range than previously believed. GABA-A mediated inhibition can significantly alter the excitability and tuning of auditory cortex and could contribute significantly to cortical plasticity due to experience and cochlear pathology.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Acoustic Stimulation
  • Animals
  • Auditory Cortex / cytology
  • Auditory Cortex / drug effects*
  • Auditory Cortex / metabolism*
  • Auditory Threshold / drug effects*
  • Auditory Threshold / physiology*
  • Bicuculline / pharmacology*
  • Chinchilla
  • GABA Antagonists / pharmacology*
  • GABA-A Receptor Antagonists
  • Neuronal Plasticity / drug effects*
  • Neuronal Plasticity / physiology
  • Neurons / drug effects*
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Receptors, GABA-A / metabolism
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism

Substances

  • GABA Antagonists
  • GABA-A Receptor Antagonists
  • Receptors, GABA-A
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
  • Bicuculline