Embryonically expressed GABA and glutamate drive electrical activity regulating neurotransmitter specification.

TitleEmbryonically expressed GABA and glutamate drive electrical activity regulating neurotransmitter specification.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2008
AuthorsRoot CM, Velázquez-Ulloa NA, Monsalve GC, Minakova E, Spitzer NC
JournalJ Neurosci
Volume28
Issue18
Pagination4777-84
Date Published2008 Apr 30
ISSN1529-2401
KeywordsAnimals, Antigens, CD57, Calcium, Choline O-Acetyltransferase, Embryo, Nonmammalian, Enzyme Inhibitors, Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists, GABA Antagonists, gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Glutamate Decarboxylase, Glutamic Acid, Health Services Research, Larva, Morpholines, Neurons, Phosphoserine, Receptors, GABA, Receptors, Glutamate, Synapses, Vesicular Glutamate Transport Proteins, Xenopus
Abstract

Neurotransmitter signaling in the mature nervous system is well understood, but the functions of transmitters in the immature nervous system are less clear. Although transmitters released during embryogenesis regulate neuronal proliferation and migration, little is known about their role in regulating early neuronal differentiation. Here, we show that GABA and glutamate drive calcium-dependent embryonic electrical activity that regulates transmitter specification. The number of neurons expressing different transmitters changes when GABA or glutamate signaling is blocked chronically, either using morpholinos to knock down transmitter-synthetic enzymes or applying pharmacological receptor antagonists during a sensitive period of development. We find that calcium spikes are triggered by metabotropic GABA and glutamate receptors, which engage protein kinases A and C. The results reveal a novel role for embryonically expressed neurotransmitters.

DOI10.1523/JNEUROSCI.4873-07.2008
Alternate JournalJ. Neurosci.
PubMed ID18448654
PubMed Central IDPMC3318922
Grant ListR01 NS015918 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
R01 NS015918-25 / NS / NINDS NIH HHS / United States
Category: 
Spitzer Laboratory