Patch-clamp recordings of spiking and nonspiking interneurons from rabbit olfactory bulb slices: GABA- and other transmitter receptors

Transmitter receptor ion channels from previously identified rabbit olfactory bulb neurons were studied by using a thin slice preparation in combination with patch-clamp measurements. PG cells, which closely resembled previously described periglomerular interneurons in their morphology, responded to microapplication of GABA, acetylcholine, norepinephrine and glycine with the activation of distinct ionic currents. JG cells, which belong either to the class of short axon cells or external tufted cells, never showed GABA responses. In mitral cells ionic currents activated by GABA, acetylcholine, norepinephrine and glutamate could be elicited. Further measurements of GABA-activated currents of PG cells were made and indicated that these cells expressed two different types of GABA receptors: one which showed fast desensitization with a decay time constant of about 5 s, and one which slowly desensitized with a decay time constant of about 20-30 s. Both types were completely inhibited by bicuculline methiodide (50 μM). GABA receptors were not blocked by Zn²⁺ (0.1 m M). From the dose-response relationship of the peak GABA-activated currents, an apparent dissociation constant of 50 μM was derived. From single channel measurements in excised outside-out patches, a single channel conductance of GABA-activated Cl^- currents of 24 pS was obtained during continuous application of the agonist. Single channel events had a mean open time of 1.9 ms.