Effect of aminooxyacetic acid on gamma-aminobutyric acid release from frog retina.

The Ca2+-dependence of the release of [3H]gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) from the pre-loaded, superfused frog retina was investigated in the presence and absence of the GABA-transaminase inhibitor, aminooxyacetic acid (AOAA). In the latter case, an ion-exchange column chromatographic technique was used to separate [3H]GABA from tritiated metabolites released with it into the superfusate. In the presence of aminooxyacetic acid, a 2 min 30 mM K+ pulse released similar amounts of [3H]GABA in normal and Ca2+-free Ringer solutions. However, when aminooxyacetic acid was absent, the K+-evoked release of [3H]GABA was substantially reduced under Ca2+-free conditions. It is concluded that the presence of aminooxyacetic acid can reduce the Ca2+-dependence of K+-evoked release of GABA from the frog retina. This is in accordance with its effect on cerebral cortex of the rat, reported previously.