Tonic GABAergic inhibition, via GABAA receptors containing αβƐ subunits, regulates excitability of ventral tegmental area dopamine neurons. (14th February 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tossell, Kyoko; Dodhia, Rakesh A.; Galet, Benjamin; Tkachuk, Olga; Ungless, Mark A.
• Is Part Of: European journal of neuroscience. Volume 53:Number 6(2021)
• Page Start: 1722
• Page End: 1737
• Publication Date: 2021-02-14
• Subjects: addiction -- extra‐synaptic -- midbrain -- synaptic transmission; Nervous system -- Periodicals; 612.8
• DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15133
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0953-816X

Abstract

Abstract: The activity of midbrain dopamine neurons is strongly regulated by fast synaptic inhibitory γ‐Aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic inputs. There is growing evidence in other brain regions that low concentrations of ambient GABA can persistently activate certain subtypes of GABAA receptor to generate a tonic current. However, evidence for a tonic GABAergic current in midbrain dopamine neurons is limited. To address this, we conducted whole‐cell recordings from ventral tegmental area (VTA) dopamine neurons in brain slices from mice. We found that application of GABAA receptor antagonists decreased the holding current, indicating the presence of a tonic GABAergic input. Global increases in GABA release, induced by either a nitric oxide donor or inhibition of GABA uptake, further increased this tonic current. Importantly, prolonged inhibition of the firing activity of local GABAergic neurons abolished the tonic current. A combination of pharmacology and immunohistochemistry experiments suggested that, unlike common examples of tonic inhibition, this current may be mediated by a relatively unusual combination of α4βƐ subunits. Lastly, we found that the tonic current reduced excitability in dopamine neurons suggesting a subtractive effect on firing activity. Abstract : Midbrain dopamine neuron receives a tonic inhibitory current which is sensitive to GABAA receptor antagonists. We found that modification of GABA release or subunit selective GABAA receptor blockage altered this tonic current. This also changed the excitability of dopamine neuron, indicated that this tonic GABAergic current through rare combination of αβƐ subunits has a subtractive effect on firing activity in midbrain dopamine neuron.