Sensitivity of thalamic GABAergic currents to clonazepam does not differ between control and genetic absence epilepsy rats.

Mutations in GABA-A receptor subunits have been reported in a number of idiopathic generalized epilepsies including childhood absence epilepsy. One of these mutations is located within a high-affinity benzodiazepine-binding domain, and clonazepam is clinically used as an anti-absence drug. The intrathalamic loop consisting of the GABAergic neurons of the nucleus reticularis thalami (NRT) and the thalamocortical (TC) neurons of sensory thalamic nuclei plays an essential role in spike and wave discharges.

Heterogeneity of postsynaptic receptor occupancy fluctuations among glycinergic inhibitory synapses in the zebrafish hindbrain.

The amplitude of glycinergic miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) varies considerably in neurons recorded in the isolated hindbrain of 50-h-old zebrafish larvae. At this age, glycinergic synapses are functionally mature. In order to measure the occupancy level of postsynaptic glycine receptors (GlyRs) and to determine the pre- and/or postsynaptic origin of its variability, we analysed mIPSCs within bursts evoked by alpha-latrotoxin (0.

Desensitization of homomeric alpha1 glycine receptor increases with receptor density.

Variations in the number of receptors at glycinergic synapses are now established and are believed to contribute to inhibitory synaptic plasticity. However, the relation between glycine receptor (GlyR) kinetics and density is still unclear. We used outside-out patch-clamp recordings and fast-flow application techniques to resolve fast homomeric GlyRalpha1 kinetics and to determine how the functional properties of these receptors depend on their density and on the presence of the anchoring protein gephyrin.