Presynaptic inhibition is produced by increasing Cl- conductance, resulting
in an action potential of a smaller amplitude at the excitatory axon termi
nals. This, in turn, reduces Ca2+ entry to produce a smaller release. For t
his mechanism to operate, the "inhibitory" effect of shunting should last d
uring the arrival of the "excitatory" action potential to its terminals, an
d to achieve that, the inhibitory action potential should precede the excit
atory action potential. Using the crayfish neuromuscular preparation which
is innervated by one excitatory axon and one inhibitory axon, we found, at
12 degrees C, prominent presynaptic inhibition when the inhibitory action p
otential followed the excitatory action potential by 1, and even 2, ms. The
presynaptic excitatory action potential and the excitatory nerve terminal
current (ENTC) were not altered, and Ca2+ imaging at single release boutons
showed that this "late" presynaptic inhibition did not result from a reduc
tion in Ca2+ entry. Since 50 mu M picrotoxin blocked this late component of
presynaptic inhibition, we suggest that gamma- aminobutyric acid-A (GABA(A
)) receptors reduce transmitter release also by a mechanism other than affe
cting Ca2+ entry.