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Interruption of pacemaker signals is mediated by GABAergic inhibition of the pacemaker nucleus in the African electric fish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Gymnarchus niloticus</Emphasis>
Authors:Ying Zhang  Masashi Kawasaki
Institution:(1) Department of Biology, Gilmer Hall, University of Virginia, P.O. Box 400328, Charlottesville, VA 22904-4328, USA
Abstract:The wave-type African weakly electric fish Gymnarchus niloticus produces electric organ discharges (EODs) from an electric organ in the tail that is driven by a pacemaker complex in the medulla, which consists of a pacemaker nucleus, two lateral relay nuclei and a medial relay nucleus. The prepacemaker nucleus (PPn) in the area of the dorsal posterior nucleus of the thalamus projects exclusively to the pacemaker nucleus and is responsible for EOD interruption behavior. The goal of the present study is to test the existence of inhibition of the pacemaker nucleus by the PPn. Immunohistochemical results showed clear anti-GABA immunoreactive labeling of fibers and terminals in the pacemaker nucleus, but no apparent anti-glycine immunoreactivity anywhere in the pacemaker complex. GABA injection into the pacemaker nucleus could induce EOD interruptions that are comparable to the interruptions induced by glutamate injection into the PPn. Application of the GABAA receptor blocker bicuculline methiodide reversibly eliminated the effects of stimulation of the PPn. Thus the EOD interruption behavior in Gymnarchus is mediated through GABAergic inhibition of the pacemaker nucleus by the PPn.
Keywords:Electric fish  Interruption behavior  Inhibition  GABA  Bicuculline
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