The activation of cannabinoid receptors in striatonigral GABAergic neurons inhibited GABA uptake

Cannabinoid receptors (CNRs) in basal ganglia are located on striatal efferent neurons which are gamma-aminobutiric acid (GABA)-containing neurons. Recently, we have demonstrated that CN-induced motor inhibition is reversed by GABA-B, but not GABA-A, receptor antagonists, presumably indicating that the activation of CNRs in striatal outflow nuclei, mainly in the substantia nigra, should be followed by an increase of GABA concentrations into the synaptic cleft of GABA-B receptor synapses. The present study was designed to examine whether this was originated by increasing GABA synthesis and/or release or by decreasing GABA uptake. We analyzed: (i) GABA synthesis, by measuring the activity of glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and GABA contents in brain regions that contain striatonigral GABAergic neurons, after in vivo administration of CNs and/or the CNR antagonist SR141716; (ii) 3H]GABA release in vitro in the presence or the absence of a synthetic CN agonist, HU-210, by using perifusion of small fragments of substantia nigra; and (iii) 3H]GABA uptake in vitro in the presence or the absence of WIN-55,212-2, by using synaptosomes obtained from either globus pallidus or substantia nigra. Results were as follows. Delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta9-THC) and HU-210, did not alter neither GAD activity nor GABA contents in both the striatum and the ventral midbrain at any of the two times tested, thus suggesting that CNs apparently failed to change GABA synthesis in striatonigral GABAergic neurons. A similar lack of effect of HU-210 on in vitro 3H]GABA release, both basal and K+-evoked, was seen when this CN was added to perifused substantia nigra fragments, also suggesting no changes at the level of GABA release. However, when synaptosome preparations obtained from the substantia nigra were incubated in the presence of WIN-55,212-2, a decrease in 3H]GABA uptake could be measured. This lowering effect was specific of striatonigral GABAergic neurons since it was not observed in synaptosome preparations obtained from the globus pallidus. In summary, the activation of CNRs located on striatonigral GABAergic neurons, which primarily access to GABA-B receptor synapses, was accompanied by a reduction in neurotransmitter uptake, thus prolonging the presence of GABA into the synaptic cleft. This mechanism might underly the CN-induced motor inhibition through the potentiation of the inhibitory effect of GABA on neuronal activity, in particular of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons.