Abstract
In 1956 Eugene Roberts stated, “Perhaps the most difficult question to answer would be whether the presence in the grey matter of the central nervous system of uniquely high concentrations of γ-aminobutyric acid and the enzyme which forms it from glutamic acid has a direct or indirect connection to conduction of the nerve impulse in this tissue”. Thirty years later γ-aminobutyrate (GABA, 4-aminobutyrate) is universally accepted as the major inhibitory synaptic transmitter. This review is trying to explore its additional roles, beyond a mediation of synaptic transmission. Specifically, we are examining a possibility that GABA, on account of its characteristic chemical properties in interaction with excitable membranes, mediates communication among differentiating neurons, thus influencing expression of neuronal functions, making the orderly development of synaptic connections possible.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
References
Adams, P.R., and Brown, D.A., 1975, Action of γ-aminobutyric acid on the sympathetic ganglion cells, J. Physiol., London, 250: 85–120.
Adams, J.C., 1981, Heavy metal intensification of DAB-based HRP reaction product, J. Histochem. Cytochem., 19: 755.
Anvengine, J.B., Jr., and Sidman, R.L., 1961, Autoradiographic study of cell migration during histogenesis of cerebral cortex in the mouse, Nature, 192: 766–768.
Bahr, S. and Wolff, J.R., Postnatal development and loss of axosomatic synapses in the rat visual cortex. Morphogenesis and quantitative evaluation of type 1 and type 2 synapses (submitted).
Balcar, V.J., Mark, J., Borg, J., and Mandel, P., 1979, High affinity uptake of γ-aminobutyric acid in cultured glial and neuronal cells, Neurochem. Res., 4: 339–354.
Balcar, V.J., and Hauser, K.L., 1982, Development of uptake of γ-aminobutyrate in cultured neurons, 12th Intern. Congr. Biochem. (Abstract), 95.
Balcar, V.J., Dammasch, I., and Wolff, J.R., 1983, Is there a non-synaptic component in the K+-stimulated release of GABA in the developing rat cortex? Dev. Brain Res., 10: 309–311.
Berry, M., and Rogers, A.W., 1965, The migration of neuroblasts in the developing cerebral cortex, J. Anat., 99: 691–709.
Berry, M., 1982, Cellular differentiation: Development of dendritic arborizations under normal and experimentally altered conditions, in: “Development and Modifiability of the Cerebral Cortex”, P. Rakic and P.S. Goldman-Rakic, eds., Neurosci. Res. Progr. Bull., 20: 451–461.
Bowery, N.G., and Brown, D.A., 1972, γ-aminobutyric acid uptake by sympathetic ganglia, Nature, 238: 89–91.
Chronwall, B.M., and Wolff, J.R., 1978a, Classification and location of neurons taking up 3H-GABA in the visual cortex of rats, in:“Amino Acids as Chemical Transmitters”, Plenum Press, New York, pp. 297–303.
Chronwall, B.M., and Wolff, J.R., 1978b, Aspects on the development on non-pyramidal neurons in the neocortex of rat, Zoon, 6: 145–148.
Chronwall, B.M., and Wolff, J.R., 1980, Prenatal and postnatal development of GABA-accumulating cells in the occipital cortex of rat, J. Comp. Neurol., 190: 187–208.
Costa, E., Di Chiara, G., and Gessa, G.L., ed., 1981, “GABA and Benzodiazepine Receptors”, Adv. Biochem. Pharmaco1., 26, Raven Press, New York.
Coyle, J.T., and Enna, S.J., 1976, Neurochemical aspects of the ontogenesis of GABA-ergic neurons in the rat brain, Brain Res., 111: 119–133.
Coyle, J.T., 1982, Development of neurotransmitters in the neocortex, in: “Development and Modifiability of the Cerebral Cortex”, P. Rakic and P.S. Goldman-Rakic, eds., Neurosci. Res. Progr. Bull. 20: 479–492.
Davies, L.P., Johnston, G.A.R., and Stephanson, A.L., 1975, Postnatal changes in the potassium-stimulated, calcium-dependent release of radioactive GABA and glycine from slices of rat central nervous tissue, J. Neurochem., 387–392.
Emson, P.C., and Hunt, S.P., 1981, Anatomical chemistry of the cerebral cortex, in: “The Organization of the Cerebral Cortex”, F.O. Schmitt, F.G. Worden, G. Adelmann, S.G. Dennis, eds., MIT-Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and London, England, pp. 325–345.
Fagg, G.E., and Lane, J.D., 1979, The uptake and release of putative amino acid transmitters, Neuroscience, 4: 1015–1036.
Gallyas, F., Görcs, T., and Merchenthal, I., 1982, High-grade intensification of the end product of the diaminobenzidine reaction for peroxidase histochemistry, J. Histochem. Cytochem., 30: 183–184.
Hauser, K.L., and Heid, J., 1978, Morphology and biochemistry of rat cortical neurons in dissociated cell culture, Proc. Eur. Soc. Neurochem., 1: 503.
Hauser, K.L., Balcar, V.J., and Bernasconi, R., 1980, Development of GABA neurons in dissociated cell culture of rat cerebral cortex, in: “GABA Neurotransmission”, H. Lal, ed., Brain Res. Bull. 5, suppl. 2: 37–41.
His, W., 1904, Die Entwicklung des menschlichen Gehirns während der ersten Monate, Hirzel Verlag’, Leipzig.
Hökfelt, T., and Ljungdahl, A., 1972, Autoradiographic identific-action of cerebral and cerebellar cortical neurons accumulating labeled gamma-aminobutyric acid (3H-GABA). Exp. Brain Res., 14: 354–362.
Horton, R.W., 1980, GABA and seizures induced by inhibition of glutamic acid decarboxylase, in: GABA Neurotransmission”, H. Lal, ed., Brain Res. Bull. 5, suppl. 2: 605–608.
Houser, C.R., Lee, M., and Vaughn, J.E., 1983, Immunocytochemical localization of glutamic acid decarboxylase in normal and de-afferented superior colliculus: Evidence for reorganization of γ-aminobutyric acid synapses. J. Neurosci. 3: 2030–2042.
Iversen, L.L., and Neal, M.J., 1968, The uptake of 3H-GABA by slices of rat cerebral cortex, J. Neurochem., 15: 1141–1149.
Iversen, L.L., and Johnston, G.A.R., 1971, GABA-uptake in rat central nervous system: Comparison of uptake in slices and homogenates and the effects of some inhibitors. J. Neurochem. 18: 1939–1950.
Iversen, L.L., and Kelly, J.S., 1975, Uptake and metabolism of γ-aminobutyric acid by neurons and glial cells, Biochem. Pharmacol., 24: 933–938.
Jacobson, M., 1978, “Developmental Neurobiology”, Plenum Press, New York.
Johnston, G.A.R., and Davies, L.P., 1974, Postnatal changes in the high affinity uptake of glycine and GABA in the rat central nervous system. J. Neurochem., 22: 101–105.
Johnston, G.A.R., 1977, Effects of calcium on the potassium-stimulated release of radioactive β-alanine and γ-aminobutyric acid from slices of rat cerebral cortex and spinal cord, Brain Res., 121: 179–181.
Jóo, F., Dames, W., and Wolff, J.R., 1979, Effect of prolonged sodium bromid administration on the fine structure of dendrites in the superior ganglion of adult rat. Progr. in Brain Res., 51: 109–115.
Katz, R.I., Chase, T.N., and Kopin, I.J., 1969, Effect of ions on stimulus-induced release of amino acids from mammalian brain slices. J. Neurochem. 16: 961–964.
Levi, G., and Raiteri, M., 1974, Exchange of neurotransmitter amino acids at nerve endings can stimulate high-affinity uptake. Nature, 250: 735–737.
Martin, D.L., 1976, Carrier-mediated transport and removal of GABA from synaptic regions, in: “GABA in Nervous System Function”, E. Roberts, T.N. Chase, D.B. Tower, eds., Raven Press, New York, pp. 347–386.
Meier, E., Drejer, J., and Schousboe, A., 1983, Trophic actions of GABA on the development of physiologically active GABA receptors, in: “CNS-Receptors from Molecular Pharmacology to Behaviour”, P. Mandel, F.V. DeFeudis, eds., Raven Press, New York, Adv. Biochem. Psychopharmacol. 37: 47–58.
Neal, M.J., and Bowery, N.G., 1977, Cis-3-aminocyclohexane-carboxylic acid: a substrate for the neuronal GABA transport system, Brain Res., 138: 169–174.
Parnavelas, J.G., and Uylings, H.B.M., 1980, Growth of non-pyramidal neurons in the visual cortex of the rat: A morphometric study, Brain Res., 193: 373–382.
Raedler, A., and Sievers, J., 1975, The development of the visual system of the albino rat, Adv. Anat. Embryol. Cell Biol., 50, Springer, Berlin-Heidelberg-New York, pp. 88.
Rakic, P., 1972, Mode of cell migration to the superficial layers of fetal monkey neocortex, J. Comp. Neurol., 145: 61–84.
Rakic, P., 1974, Neurons in rhesus monkey visual cortex: systematic relation between time of origin and eventual disposition, Science, 183: 425–427.
Redburn, D.A., Broome, D., Ferkany, J., and Enna, S.J., 1978, Development of rat brain uptake and calcium-dependent release of GABA, Brain Res., 152: 511–519.
Ribak, C.E., 1978, Aspinous and sparsely-spinous stellate neurons in the visual cortex of rats contain glutamic acid decarboxylase, J. Neurocytol., 7: 461–478.
Rickmann, M., Chronwall, B.M., and Wolff, J.R., 1977, On the development of non-pyramidal neurons and axons outside the cortical plate: The early marginal zone as a pallial anlage, Anat. Embryol., 151: 285:307.
Rickmann, M., and Wolff, J.R., 1977, Cytological characteristics of early stages of glial differentiatin in the neocortex, Folia Morphol. 25: 235–239.
Rickmann, M., and Wolff, J.R., Prenatal Gliogenesis in the neopallium of rat. Adv. Anat. Embryol. Cell Biol.(in press).
Seiler, N, and Sarhan, S., 1983, Metabolic routes of GABA formation in chick embryo brain, Neurochem. Intern., 5: 625–633.
Srinivasan, V., Neal, M.J., and Mitchell, J.F., 1969, The effect of electrical stimulation and high potassium concentrations on the efflux of [3H]γ-aminobutyric acid from brain slices. J. Neurochem., 16: 1235–1244.
Taberner, P.V., Pearce, M.J., and Watkins, J.C., 1977, The inhibition of mouse brain glutamate decarboxylase by some structural analogues of L-glutamatic acid, Biochem. Pharmacol., 26: 345–349.
Weissmann-Nanopolous, D., Belin, M.F., Didier, M., Aguera, M., Partisani, M., Maitre, M., and Pujol, J.F., 1983, Immuno-histochemical evidence for neuronal and non-neuronal synthesis of GABA in the rat subcommissural organ. Neurochem. Intern., 5: 785–791.
Wilson, S.H., Schrier, B.K., Farber, J.L., Thompson, E.J., Rosenberg, R.N., Blume, A.J., and Nirenberg, M.W., 1972, Markers for gene expression in cultured cells from the nervous system, J. Biol. Chem., Vol. 247, No. 10, pp. 3159–3169.
Wolff, J.R., 1978, Ontogenetic aspects of cortical architecture: Lamination, in:”Architectonics of the Cerebral Cortex, M.A. Brazier and H. Petsche, eds., Raven Press, New York, pp. 159–173.
Wolff, J.R., Chronwall, B.M., and Rickmann, M., 1978, Morphogenese relations between cell migration and synaptogenesis in the neocortex of rat, in:“Proceeding of the European Society for Neurochemistry”, vol. 1., V. Neuhoff, ed., Verlag Chemie, Weinheim-New York, pp. 158–173.
Wolff, J.R., Jóo, F., and Dames, W., 1978, Plasticity in dendrites shown by continuous GABA administration in superior cervical ganglion of adult rat, Nature, 274: 72–74.
Wolff, J.R., Rickmann, M., and Chronwall, B.M., 1979, Axo-glial synapses and GABA-accumulating glial cells in the embryonic neocortex of the rat, Cell Tiss. Res., 201: 239–248.
Wolff, J.R., 1981, Some morphogenetic aspects of the development of the central nervous system, in: “Behavioral Development. The Bielefeld Interdisciplinary Projec”, K. Immelmann, G.W. Barlow, L. Petrinovich and M. Main (eds.), Cambridge University Press, New York, pp. 164–190.
Wolff, J.R., 1981, Evidence for a dual role of GABA as a synaptic transmitter and a promoter of synaptogenesis, in: “Amino Acid Neurotransmitters”, F.V. DeFeudis, P. Mandel, eds., Raven Press, New York, pp. 459–466.
Wolff, J.R., Jóo, F., Dames, W., and Fehér, O., 1981, Neuroplasticity in the superior cervical ganglion as a consequence of long-lasting inhibition, in: “Cellular Analogues of Conditioning and Neural Plasticity”, O. Fehér, F. Joó, eds., Adv. Physiol. Sci., Vol. 36, pp. 1–9.
Wolff, J.R., and Chronwall, B.M., 1982, Axosomatic synapses in the visual cortex of adult rat. A comparison between GABA-accumulating and other neurons, J. Neurocytol., 11: 409–425.
Wolff, J.R., and Wagner, G.P., 1983, Selforganization in synaptogenesis: Interaction between the formation of excitatory and inhibitory synapses, in: “Synergetics of the Brain”, E. Basar, H. Flohr, H. Haken and A.J. Mandel, eds., Springer Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, Tokio, pp. 50–59.
Wolff, J.R., Chronwall, B.M., and Rickmann, M., 1983, “Diffuse deposition mode” provides rat visual cortex with non-pyramidal and GABA-ergic neurons, 4th Intern. Congr. Intern. Soc. for Developm. Neurosci., Abstr. p. 54.
Wolff, J.R., Böttcher, H., Zetzsche, T., Oertel, W.H., and Chronwal, B.M., Development of GABA-ergic neurons in rat visual cortex as identified by glutamatedecarboxylase-like immunoreactivity, Neurosci. Lett, (in press).
Wong, P.T., and McGeer, E., 1981, Postnatal changes of GABA-ergic and glutamatergic parameters, Dev. Brain Res. 1: 519–530.
Wu, J.Y., 1980, Properties of L-glutamate decarboxylase from non-neuronal tissues, in: “GABA Neurotransmission”, H. Lal, ed., Brain Res. Bull., 5, suppl. 2:31–36.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 1984 Plenum Press, New York
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Wolff, J.R., Balcar, V.J., Zetzsche, T., Böttcher, H., Schmechel, D.E., Chronwall, B.M. (1984). Development of GABA-Ergic System in Rat Visual Cortex. In: Lauder, J.M., Nelson, P.G. (eds) Gene Expression and Cell-Cell Interactions in the Developing Nervous System. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 181. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4868-9_17
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4868-9_17
Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA
Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-4870-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-4868-9
eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive