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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Estimation of ambient GABA levels in layer I of the mouse neonatal cortex in brain slices

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GABAergic synapses on Cajal–Retzius neurons in layer I of the murine neocortex experience GABAB receptor (GABABR)-mediated tonic inhibition. Extracellular GABA concentration ([GABA]o) that determines the strength of GABABR-mediated inhibition is controlled by GABA transporters (GATs). In this study, we hypothesized that the strength ofpresynaptic GABABR activation reflects [GABA]o in the vicinity of synaptic contacts. Slices obtained from two age groups were used, namely postnatal days (P)2–3 and P5–7. GABAergic postsynaptic currents (IPSCs) were recorded using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Minimal electrical stimulation in layer I was applied to elicit evoked IPSCs (eIPSCs) using a paired-pulse protocol. Three parameters were selected for comparison: the mean eIPSC amplitude, paired-pulse ratio, and failure rate. When GAT-1 and GAT-2/3 were blocked by NO-711 (10 μm) and SNAP-5114 (40 μm), respectively, no tonic GABABR-mediated inhibition was observed. In order to restore the control levels of GABABR-mediated inhibition, 250 and 125 nm exogenous GABA was required at P2–3 and P5–7, respectively. Addition of 3-mercaptopropionic acid, a glutamate decarboxylase inhibitor, did not significantly change the obtained values arguing against the suggestion that a mechanism different from GATs contributes to [GABA]o control. We conclude that juxtasynaptic [GABA]o is higher (about 250 nm) at P2–3 than at P5–7 (about 125 nm). As both radial cell migration and corticogenesis in general are strongly dependent on [GABA]o and the formation of the last layer 2/3 is finished by P4 in rodents, the observed [GABA]o reduction in layer I might reflect this crucial event in the cortical development.