Modulation of in vivo GABA-evoked responses by nitric oxide-active compounds in the globus pallidus of rat

J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2012 Aug;119(8):911-21. doi: 10.1007/s00702-011-0760-0. Epub 2012 Jan 19.

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous molecule acting as a messenger in both the peripheral and the central nervous systems. NO affects synaptic activity by modulating neurotransmitter release and/or receptor function. We previously observed that NO-active compounds modify the bioelectric activity of basal ganglia (BG) units. In this study, we applied microiontophoresis to extracellular in vivo recordings to investigate the effect of NO-active compounds on GABA-evoked responses in the globus pallidus (GP) of anesthetized rats. The changes induced by NO-active drugs on the GABA-induced inhibition were used as indicators of NO modulation. The response to GABA release was tested on recorded GP neurons before and during the administration of S-nitroso-glutathione (SNOG, a NO donor) and/or Nω-nitro-L: -arginine methyl ester (L: -NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS); furthermore, SNOG and L: -NAME were tested at different ejection currents in order to highlight the possibility of a current-dependent effect in the nitrergic modulation of GABA transmission. In general, during SNOG ejection the magnitude of GABA-evoked responses was reduced, whereas the administration of L: -NAME produced the opposite effect. The results suggest that NO-active drugs modulate the response of GP neurons to GABA transmission; the effects induced by SNOG and L: -NAME were strictly related to the ejection currents. Then, the modulation of GABAergic transmission by NO could represent a mechanism to finely regulate the GP neurons activity with important consequences on the overall BG function.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Electrophysiology
  • Evoked Potentials / physiology
  • Globus Pallidus / metabolism*
  • Iontophoresis
  • Male
  • Neurons / metabolism*
  • Nitric Oxide / metabolism*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Synaptic Transmission / physiology*
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / metabolism*

Substances

  • Nitric Oxide
  • gamma-Aminobutyric Acid