Kinetic Properties of Cl−Uptake Mediated by Na+-Dependent K+-2Cl−Cotransport in Immature Rat Neocortical Neurons

GABA, the main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the adult nervous system, evokes depolarizing membrane responses in immature neurons, which are crucial for the generation of early network activity. Although it is well accepted that depolarizing GABA actions are caused by an elevated intracellular Cl−concentration ([Cl−]i), the mechanisms of Cl−accumulation in immature neurons are still a matter of debate. Using patch-clamp, microfluorimetric, immunohistochemical, and molecular biological approaches, we studied the mechanism of Cl−uptake in Cajal-Retzius (CR) cells of immature [postnatal day 0 (P0) to P3] rat neocortex. Gramicidin-perforated patch-clamp and 6-methoxy-N-ethylquinolinium-microfl…