Release of gamma-aminobutyric acid by visual stimulation in the kitten visual cortex.

Release of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was measured by brain microdialysis and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in the visual cortex of anesthetized kitten. The basal level of endogenous GABA release was 0.25 +/- 0.02 pmol/30 microliters dialysate (n = 8), which was near the lower limit of resolution of the present measuring system. When nipecotic acid, a GABA uptake inhibitor, was infused, release was increased 5-10 fold. The nipecotic acid-induced GABA output was not affected by the infusion of tetrodotoxin (TTX), a sodium channel blocker. Visual stimulation presented to one eye led to a marked increase in GABA output over the basal level. This effect was completely suppressed by TTX administration. These results suggest that the increase in GABA output in response to visual stimulation is due to an increase in GABAergic neuronal activity in the kitten visual cortex.