Trace amines depress GABA B response in dopaminergic neurons by inhibiting G-betagamma-gated inwardly rectifying potassium channels.

Trace amines (TAs) are present in the central nervous system in which they up-regulate catecholamine release and are implicated in the pathogenesis of addiction, attention-deficit/hyper-activity disorder, Parkinson's disease, and schizophrenia. By using intracellular and patch-clamp recordings from dopaminergic cells in the rat midbrain slices, we report a depressant postsynaptic action of two TAs, beta-phenylethylamine (beta-PEA) and tyramine (TYR) on the GABA(B)-mediated slow inhibitory postsynaptic potential and baclofen-activated outward currents. beta-PEA and TYR activated G-proteins, interfering with the coupling between GABA(B) receptors and G-betagamma-gated inwardly rectifying potassium channels. This is the first demonstration that beta-PEA and TYR depress inhibitory synaptic potentials in neurons of the central nervous system, supporting their emerging role as neuromodulators.