Ethanol Decreases Purkinje Neuron Excitability by Increasing GABA Release in Rat Cerebellar Slices

• DOI: 10.1124/jpet.108.144865
• Publication Date: 2008-08-29T01:39:28Z
• Authors: Manuel Mameli; Paolo Botta; Paula A. Zamudio; Stefano Zucca; C. Fernando Valen...
• Keywords: Ethanol; Miniature Postsynaptic Potentials; Action Potentials; Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials; Synaptic Potentials; Rats; Electrophysiology; Purkinje Cells; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Inhibitory Postsynaptic Potentials; Cerebellum; Animals; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid

Cerebellar Purkinje neurons (PNs) receive inhibitory GABAergic input from stellate and basket cells, which are located in the outer inner portions of molecular layer, respectively. Ethanol (EtOH) was recently shown to increase transmission at PNs via a mechanism that involves enhanced calcium release presynaptic internal stores (<i>J Pharmacol Exp Ther</i> 323:356–364, 2007). Here, we further characterized effect EtOH on GABA assessed its impact PN excitability. Using whole-cell patch-clamp electrophysiological techniques cerebellar vermis parasagittal slices, found acutely increases frequency but not amplitude or half-width miniature spontaneous postsynaptic currents (IPSCs). significantly increased decreased paired pulse ratio IPSCs evoked by stimulation layer. In current clamp, both excitatory potentials granule cell axon number action triggered these events; effects depended GABA_A receptor activation because they were observed presence bicuculline. Loose-patch cell-attached recordings revealed neither potential firing nor coefficient variation interspike interval altered acute exposure. These findings suggest differentially affects cell- cell-to-PN synapses it modulates axonal input. could be part responsible for impairments associated with intoxication.