Publication
Title
GABA neurotransmitter signaling in the developing mouse lens: dynamic regulation of components and functionality
Author
Abstract
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), the major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the vertebrate nervous system, serves as a signaling molecule modulating diverse processes during embryonic development. Earlier we have demonstrated that different forms of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) are differentially regulated during mouse lens development. Here we show that the developing lens expresses also components of GABA signaling downstream of GAD. Multiple GABAA and GABAB receptor subunits as well as the GABA transporters show expression profiles highly correlated with the expression of different GADs. GABA receptors (GABAR) and the vesicular GABA transporter localize at the apical/basal membranes of the lens epithelia and differentiating fibers and may be involved in conventional GABAR-mediated signaling, while the membrane GABA transporters may also function as Na+/Cl-/GABA carriers. The functionality of GABAR was verified by calcium imaging in whole lenses. Our data suggest that GABA synthesized locally by GAD, acts through GABA receptors by modulating the intracellular calcium levels.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Developmental dynamics. - New York, N.Y., 1992 - 2013
Publication
New York, N.Y. : 2008
ISSN
1058-8388 [print]
1097-0177 [online]
DOI
10.1002/DVDY.21768
Volume/pages
237 :12 (2008) , p. 3830-3841
ISI
000261679300034
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 05.05.2009
Last edited 25.05.2022
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