Activation of GABAB receptors at individual release boutons of the crayfish opener neuromuscular junction produces presynaptic inhibition

1. Presynaptic inhibition in crustaceans involves the activation of gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptors that produce an increase in chloride conductance at excitatory axon terminals. Such inhibition produced by single inhibitory pulses is blocked by picrotoxin, a GABAA antagonist. 2. Presynaptic inhibition produced by bath application of GABA was not blocked by picrotoxin. Measurements of the membrane resistance of the excitatory axon terminals revealed that substantial presynaptic inhibition still persisted after 50 microM picrotoxin had completely blocked the increase in conductance produced by 10 microM GABA. 3. Baclofen, a GABAB agonist, reduced release from the excitatory nerve terminals, and 20H-Saclofen, a GABAB antagonist, blocked the effect of baclofen and the presynaptic inhibition produced by 10 microM GABA. 4. 20H-Saclofen alone did not block presynaptic inhibition produced by 100 microM GABA, and the combined action of both 20H-Saclofen and picrotoxin was required to block such effects. 5. The excitatory nerve terminals seem to contain GABAA and GABAB receptors. The GABAB receptors are preferentially activated at lower GABA concentrations (in the microM range), whereas both the GABAA and GABAB receptors are activated at high GABA concentrations.