EN
Sensory learning is known to affect neuronal function, morphology and synaptic connectivity. It has been shown that various forms of classical conditioning involving whisker stimulation induce morphological changes in respective barrels (altered expression of GABAARs, NMDARs and GAD67). More recent studies have shown that sensory learning enhanced the inhibitory synaptic transmission (Tokarski et al. 2007). Our aim was to follow up the impact of sensory learning on GABAergic currents in the barrel cortex by addressing the issue of tonic GABAergic inhibition. We have characterized the tonic currents in naive mice for different cell types (Regular Spiking, Regular Spiking Non-Pyramidal and Fast Spiking) and found that the values of currents are correlated with the neuronal cell type. Interestingly, classical conditioning (tactile whisker stimulation associated with electric foot shock) affected the value of tonic current in the cell specifi c manner. To further explore the underlying mechanisms, we have used a specifi c “superagonist” (THIP) for δ-subunit containing GABAA receptors. Our data indicate that observed here impact of sensory learning on tonic currents results from altered responsiveness of δ-subunit containing receptors. In conclusion, we provide evidence that behavioral training does affect the tonic inhibition in the barrel cortex. Supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education grants PBZ/ MNiSW/07/2006/02 and N401 028 32/0664.