Electrophysiological evidence for glial-subtype glutamate transporter functional expression in rat cerebellar granule neurons

A glutamate-sensitive inward current (Iglu) is described in rat cerebellar granule neurons and related to a glutamate transport mechanism. We examined the features of Iglu using the patch-clamp technique. In steady-state conditions the Iglu measured 8.14 ± 1.9 pA. Iglu was identified as a voltage-dependent inward current showing a strong rectification at positive potentials. L-Glutamate activated the inward current in a dose-dependent manner, with a half-maximal effect at about 18 µM and a maximum increase of 51.2 ± 4.4%. The inward current was blocked by the presence of dihydrokainate (0.5 mM), shown by others to readily block the GLT1 isoform. We thus speculate that Iglu could be attributed to the presence of a native glutamate transporter in cerebellar granule neurons.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Mafra,R.A., Leão,R.M., Beirão,P.S.L., Cruz,J.S.
Format:	Digital revista
Language:	English
Published:	Associação Brasileira de Divulgação Científica 2003
Online Access:	http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0100-879X2003000700018
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!