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Action of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the isolated photosensory pineal organ

Meissl, Hilmar and Ekström, Peter LU (1991) In Brain Research 562(1). p.71-78
Abstract

The effect of GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid), its agonists (muscimol, baclofen) and antagonist (bicuculline) on pineal ganglion cells of the luminosity type were studied in the isolated, superfused pineal organ of the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Extracellular recordings revealed that GABA added through the superfusion medium caused a clear alteration of the actvity of projecting neurons, which transmit luminosity responses to the brain. Spontaneous discharges of ganglion cells were predominantly suppressed by GABA (33 neurons out of 48), but 10 neurons were clearly excited. Similar effects were observed after addition of muscimol, but not of baclofen. Bicuculline reversed the GABA and muscimol induced inhibition or excitation. In 4... (More)

The effect of GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid), its agonists (muscimol, baclofen) and antagonist (bicuculline) on pineal ganglion cells of the luminosity type were studied in the isolated, superfused pineal organ of the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Extracellular recordings revealed that GABA added through the superfusion medium caused a clear alteration of the actvity of projecting neurons, which transmit luminosity responses to the brain. Spontaneous discharges of ganglion cells were predominantly suppressed by GABA (33 neurons out of 48), but 10 neurons were clearly excited. Similar effects were observed after addition of muscimol, but not of baclofen. Bicuculline reversed the GABA and muscimol induced inhibition or excitation. In 4 neurons of the luminosity type, GABA caused bidirectional, inhibitory and excitatory responses depending on the state of light- or dark-adaptation. These observations suggest a role of a GABAergic mechanism in the generation and transmission of luminosity responses in the trout pineal organ. It appears that GABA participates in the modulation of light sensitivity during light- and dark-adaptation processes and that this action is mediated by GABAA receptors.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
GABA, Ganglion cells, Neuronal activity, Photosensitivity, Pineal organ, Teleost fish, Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss
in
Brain Research
volume
562
issue
1
pages
8 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:1799874
  • scopus:0026091371
ISSN
0006-8993
DOI
10.1016/0006-8993(91)91188-7
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9eafb1b9-21b1-4cdf-bfd4-014bba4e216f
date added to LUP
2019-10-03 10:14:54
date last changed
2024-01-01 21:44:06
@article{9eafb1b9-21b1-4cdf-bfd4-014bba4e216f,
  abstract     = {{<p>The effect of GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid), its agonists (muscimol, baclofen) and antagonist (bicuculline) on pineal ganglion cells of the luminosity type were studied in the isolated, superfused pineal organ of the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss. Extracellular recordings revealed that GABA added through the superfusion medium caused a clear alteration of the actvity of projecting neurons, which transmit luminosity responses to the brain. Spontaneous discharges of ganglion cells were predominantly suppressed by GABA (33 neurons out of 48), but 10 neurons were clearly excited. Similar effects were observed after addition of muscimol, but not of baclofen. Bicuculline reversed the GABA and muscimol induced inhibition or excitation. In 4 neurons of the luminosity type, GABA caused bidirectional, inhibitory and excitatory responses depending on the state of light- or dark-adaptation. These observations suggest a role of a GABAergic mechanism in the generation and transmission of luminosity responses in the trout pineal organ. It appears that GABA participates in the modulation of light sensitivity during light- and dark-adaptation processes and that this action is mediated by GABA<sub>A</sub> receptors.</p>}},
  author       = {{Meissl, Hilmar and Ekström, Peter}},
  issn         = {{0006-8993}},
  keywords     = {{GABA; Ganglion cells; Neuronal activity; Photosensitivity; Pineal organ; Teleost fish; Trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{71--78}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Brain Research}},
  title        = {{Action of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the isolated photosensory pineal organ}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0006-8993(91)91188-7}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/0006-8993(91)91188-7}},
  volume       = {{562}},
  year         = {{1991}},
}