Corns, LF, Deuchars, J and Deuchars, SA (2013) GABAergic responses of mammalian ependymal cells in the central canal neurogenic niche of the postnatal spinal cord. Neuroscience Letters, 553. 57 - 62. ISSN 0304-3940
Abstract
The area surrounding the central canal of the postnatal mammalian spinal cord is a highly plastic region that exhibits many similarities to other postnatal neurogenic niches, such as the subventricular zone. Within this region, ependymal cells have been identified as neural stem cells however very little is known about their properties and how the local environment, including neurotransmitters, is capable of affecting them. The neurotransmitter GABA is present around the central canal and is known to affect cells within other postnatal neurogenic niches. This study used whole cell patch clamp electrophysiology and intracellular dye-loading in in vitro Wistar rat spinal cord slices to characterise ependymal cells and their ability to respond to GABA. Ependymal cells were defined by their passive response properties and low input resistances. Extensive dye-coupling was observed between ependymal cells; this was confirmed as gap junction coupling using the gap junction blocker, 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid, which significantly increased the input resistance of ependymal cells. GABA depolarised all ependymal cells tested; the partial antagonism of this response by bicuculline and gabazine indicates that GABAA receptors contribute to this response. A lack of effect by baclofen suggests that GABAB receptors do not contribute to the GABAergic response. The ability of ependymal cells to respond to GABA suggests that GABA could be capable of influencing the proliferation and differentiation of cells within the neurogenic niche of the postnatal spinal cord.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
---|---|
Authors/Creators: |
|
Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | (c) 2013, Corns, LF, Deuchars, J and Deuchars, SA. This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 3.0) licence, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Keywords: | Spinal cord; Ependymal cell; Gamma amino butyric acid; Gap junction; Electrophysiology |
Dates: |
|
Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Biological Sciences (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 04 Mar 2014 11:36 |
Last Modified: | 29 Mar 2018 03:52 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2013.07.007 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.neulet.2013.07.007 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:77945 |