The Journal of Neurophysiology Vol. 86 No. 1 July 2001, pp. 173-182
Copyright ©2001 by the American Physiological Society

Gadolinium Reduces AMPA Receptor Desensitization and Deactivation in Hippocampal Neurons

Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada

Lei, Saobo and John F. MacDonald. Gadolinium Reduces AMPA Receptor Desensitization and Deactivation in Hippocampal Neurons. J. Neurophysiol. 86: 173-182, 2001. The actions of the trivalent cation Gd³⁺ on whole cell AMPA receptor-mediated currents were studied in isolated hippocampal neurons, in nucleated or outside-out patches taken from cultured hippocampal neurons, and on miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mEPSCs) recorded in cultured hippocampal neurons. Glutamate, AMPA, or kainate was employed to activate AMPA receptors. Applications of relatively low concentrations of Gd³⁺ (0.1-10 µM) substantially enhanced steady-state whole cell glutamate and kainate-evoked currents without altering peak currents, suggesting that desensitization was reduced. However, higher concentrations (>30 µM) depressed steady-state currents, indicating an underlying inhibition of channel activity. Lower concentrations of Gd³⁺ also increased the potency of peak glutamate-evoked currents without altering that of steady-state currents. An ultrafast perfusion system and nucleated patches were then used to better resolve peak glutamate-evoked currents. Low concentrations of Gd³⁺ reduced peak currents, enhanced steady-state currents, and slowed the onset of desensitization, providing further evidence that this cation reduces desensitization. In the presence of cyclothiazide, a compound that blocks desensitization, a low concentration Gd³⁺ inhibited both peak and steady-state currents, indicating that Gd³⁺ both reduces desensitization and inhibits these currents. Gd³⁺ reduced the probability of channel opening at the peak of the currents but did not alter the single channel conductance calculated using nonstationary variance analysis. Recovery from desensitization was enhanced, and glutamate-evoked current activation and deactivation were slowed by Gd³⁺. The Gd³⁺-induced reduction in desensitization did not require the presence of the GluR2 subunit as this effect was seen in hippocampal neurons from GluR2 null-mutant mice. Gd³⁺ reduced the time course of decay of mEPSCs perhaps as a consequence of its slowing of AMPA receptor deactivation although an increase in the frequency of mEPSCs also suggested enhanced presynaptic release of transmitter. These results demonstrate that Gd³⁺ potently reduces AMPA receptor desensitization and mimics a number of the properties of the positive modulators of AMPA receptor desensitization such as cyclothiazide.