Tetanus toxin inhibition of K+-stimulated [3H]GABA release from developing cell cultures of the rat cerebellum.

The effect of tetanus toxin pretreatment on K+-stimulated [3H]gamma-aminobutyric acid release from neuron-enriched cerebellar cell cultures at various stages during their development in vitro was assessed. Tetanus toxin had little inhibitory effect on immature (1-3-day-old) cultures, but markedly reduced K+-evoked [3H]gamma-aminobutyric acid release from 7- and 14-day-old cultures (approximately 80% inhibition). It is suggested that cerebellar neurons in culture develop tetanus toxin-sensitive transmitter release mechanisms similar to their in vivo counterparts.