Allosteric modulation of GABAA receptors in acutely dissociated neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucleus

1996 ◽  
Vol 270 (6) ◽  
pp. C1726-C1734 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Shimura ◽  
N. Harata ◽  
M. Tamai ◽  
N. Akaike

The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-induced response was investigated in acutely dissociated suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) neurons of 11- to 14-day-old rats, under the voltage-clamp condition of nystatin-perforated patch recording. At a holding potential of -40 mV, application of GABA induced inward currents in a concentration-dependent manner. Pentobarbital and 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha-ol-20-one (pregnanolone) similarly induced inward currents. GABA-induced inward currents were suppressed in a concentration-dependent manner by pretreating neurons with a GABAA receptor antagonist, bicuculline. Bicuculline (3 x 10(-6) M) shifted the concentration-response curve of GABA to the left in a competitive manner. Reversal potential of the GABA response (EGABA) was -3.4 +/- 0.7 mV, close to the theoretical Cl- equilibrium potential of -4.1 mV. Pretreating SCN neurons with diazepam, pentobarbital, and pregnanolone enhanced the 3 x 10(-6) M GABA response. Diazepam (3 x 10(-8) M), pentobarbital (3 x 10(-5) M), and pregnanolone (10(-7) M) shifted the concentration-response curve of GABA to the left without changing the maximal amplitude of GABA responses. EGABA in the presence of diazepam, pentobarbital, or pregnanolone was the same as that in their absence. These results show that the GABA response in acutely dissociated SCN neurons is mediated by the GABAA receptor. Because the GABAA receptor of SCN neurons is allosterically augmented by diazepam, pentobarbital, and pregnanolone, similarly as in other regions of the central nervous system, the present study opens up ways to functionally modulate the GABAA receptors in SCN.

1992 ◽  
Vol 67 (5) ◽  
pp. 1367-1374 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Itabashi ◽  
K. Aibara ◽  
H. Sasaki ◽  
N. Akaike

1. The pharmacologic properties of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-induced Cl- current (ICl) were studied in the paratracheal ganglion cells freshly dissociated from 7- to 10-day-old rat trachea in a whole-cell recording mode by the use of a conventional patch-clamp technique. 2. GABA- and muscimol-induced currents increased sigmoidally in a concentration-dependent manner, and both currents reversed at approximately -3 mV, which was close to the Cl- equilibrium potential (ECl). 3. Strychnine (STR) at low concentration and bicuculline (BIC) inhibited GABA response competitively, whereas STR at the higher concentrations, benzylpenicillin (PCG), or picrotoxin (PTX) inhibited noncompetitively. Inhibition of GABA response by PCG but not other antagonists was voltage dependent, indicating that PCG acts as a Cl- channel blocker. 4. The concentration-response curve of pentobarbital sodium (PB)-induced ICl was bell shaped. At concentrations higher than 10(-3) M, both the peak and plateau currents decreased, and a transient "hump" current appeared immediately after washing out PB. In the presence of PB, the concentration-response curve of GABA shifted toward left without changing the maximum response. 5. Although diazepam (DZP) at concentration used did not induce a response, it potentiated the GABA response in a concentration-dependent manner between 10(-8) and 10(-6) M. DZP also caused a parallel shift toward left in the concentration-response curve of GABA. 6. PB or DZP further enhanced the GABA response in the presence of the other agent. 7. It is concluded that the properties of GABAA receptors in the paratracheal ganglion cells are essentially similar to those reported in other preparations.


1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (4) ◽  
pp. C745-C749 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Nakagawa ◽  
M. Wakamori ◽  
T. Shirasaki ◽  
T. Nakaye ◽  
N. Akaike

The gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-induced macroscopic Cl- current (ICl) was investigated in acutely isolated nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) neurons by a conventional patch-clamp technique combined with a rapid drug application method. The GABA- and muscimol-induced ICl increased in a concentration-dependent manner. The reversal potentials were close to the Cl- equilibrium potential. Pentobarbital sodium (PB) itself elicited a current. Bicuculline (BIC), strychnine (STR), picrotoxin, benzylpenicillin (PCG), Cd2+, and Zn2+ suppressed the GABA response in a concentration-dependent manner. Both BIC and STR shifted the concentration-response curve for GABA response to the right, whereas PCG suppressed the maximum response without affecting the threshold, indicating that BIC and STR antagonized competitively and PCG noncompetitively. The inhibitory action of PCG on GABA response was in a highly voltage-dependent manner. PB shifted the concentration-response curve for GABA response to the left. The augmentatory effect of PB was voltage dependent.


1996 ◽  
Vol 270 (2) ◽  
pp. H678-H684
Author(s):  
L. Miao ◽  
Z. Qiu ◽  
J. P. Morgan

We tested the hypothesis that the negative inotropic effect (NIE) of cocaine is mediated, at least in part, by cholinergic stimulation and can be correlated with the degree of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) dependency of the inotropic state. Cardiac myocytes were isolated from left ventricles of ferrets and loaded with the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator indo 1. Cells were placed in physiological solution containing 2.0 mM Ca2+ and stimulated at 0.5 Hz and 30 degrees C. Cocaine decreased peak cell shortening and peak intracellular Ca2+ in a concentration-dependent manner (10(-8)-10(-4) M). The concentration-response curve of cocaine was shifted significantly downward compared with those of lidocaine and procaine in the same range of concentrations. Atropine (10(-6) M) shifted the concentration-response curve of cocaine, but not those of lidocaine and procaine, rightward, with a pA2 value (7.66) similar to that obtained with carbachol (7.99). With prior addition of isoproterenol (ISO, 10(-8) M) or increased Ca2+ (4.0 mM) to increase cell shortening to the same degree (approximately 60%), cocaine and carbachol decreased contractility to a significantly greater extent in ISO-stimulated myocytes. To clarify whether these treatments changed responsiveness of the contractile elements to Ca2+, the effect of 2,3-butanedione monoxime, an agent that interferes with the interaction of myosin and actin, was tested with previous addition of ISO or increased Ca2+, and no differential effect occurred. Therefore, we postulate that 1) the NIE of cocaine on myocytes is caused by decreased Ca2+ availability; 2) this effect is due to specific stimulation of cholinergic receptors in addition to other direct myocardial (probably local anesthetic) effects; and 3) the NIE correlates with the level of cAMP dependence of the inotropic state.


2013 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 295-304
Author(s):  
I.S. Severina ◽  
A.Yu. Schegolev ◽  
A.E. Medvedev

Isatin (indole-dione) is an endogenous indole that exibits a wide range of biological and physiological activity. The influence of isatin derivatives 5-nitroisatin and arbidol (an antiviral preparatation) on spermine NONO-induced activation of human platelet soluble guanylyl cyclase was investigated. 5-nitroistnin and arbidol had no effect on basal activity, but synergistically increased in a concentration-dependent manner the spermine NONO-induced activation of this enzyme. 5-Nitroisatin and arbidol, like YC-1, sensitized guanylyl cyclase towards nitric oxide (NO) and produced a leftward shift of the spermine NONO concentration response curve. At the same time both compounds used did not influence the activation of guanylyl cyclase by YC-1 and did not change the synergistic increase of spermine NONO-induced activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase in the presence of YC-1. This suggests that 5-nitroisanin and arbidol did not compete with YC-1. Addition of isatin did not change the synergistic increase in the spermine NONO-induced guanylyl cyclase activation by 5-nitroisatin and arbidol and did not influence a leftward shift of spermine NONO concentration response curve produced by these compounds. These data suggest lack of competitive interaction between isatin and both its derivatives used.


1991 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 497-504 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Akaike ◽  
T. Shirasaki ◽  
T. Yakushiji

1. Interaction of quinolone antibiotics and the anti-inflammatory agent fenbufen with the gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptor-chloride channel complex in pyramidal neurons freshly dissociated from the hippocampal CA1 region of the rats was investigated in whole-cell mode, using the patch-clamp technique under voltage-clamp conditions. 2. Quinolones in clinical doses had no effects on the GABA-gated Cl- current (ICl) but slightly suppressed the response at concentrations greater than 10(-5) M. A metabolite of fenbufen, 4-biphenylacetic acid (BPA), also had little effect on the GABA response at therapeutic concentrations. 3. Coadministration of one of quinolones and BPA suppressed the GABA-gated ICl with increase in each of them in a concentration-dependent manner, and there was a parallel shift of the concentration-response curve for GABA to the right but with no effect on the maximum response, thereby indicating a competitive antagonism. The inhibitory potency of antibiotics in combination with BPA was in the order of norfloxacin much greater than enoxacin greater than cyprofloxacin greater than pipemidic acid much greater than ofloxacin greater than cinoxacin = piromidic acid = nalidixic acid = 0. 4. Norfloxacin and BPA, administered simultaneously, also strongly suppressed pentobarbital sodium (PB)-gated ICl, but they did not act on benzodiazepine (BZP) receptors. 5. Both GABA- and PB-induced ICls reversed at the Cl- equilibrium potential (ECl). In the presence of BPA, the quinolone-induced inhibition of GABA-gated ICls showed no voltage dependence. 6. It was concluded that, in the presence of an anti-inflammatory agent, the quinolone antibiotics decrease the affinity of GABAA receptors, the result being induction of epileptogenic neurotoxicities.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1029
Author(s):  
Che-Chuan Wang ◽  
Pei-Wen Hsieh ◽  
Jinn-Rung Kuo ◽  
Su-Jane Wang

Rosmarinic acid, a major component of rosemary, is a polyphenolic compound with potential neuroprotective effects. Asreducing the synaptic release of glutamate is crucial to achieving neuroprotectant’s pharmacotherapeutic effects, the effect of rosmarinic acid on glutamate release was investigated in rat cerebrocortical nerve terminals (synaptosomes). Rosmarinic acid depressed the 4-aminopyridine (4-AP)-induced glutamate release in a concentration-dependent manner. The removal of extracellular calcium and the blockade of vesicular transporters prevented the inhibition of glutamate release by rosmarinic acid. Rosmarinic acid reduced 4-AP-induced intrasynaptosomal Ca2+ elevation. The inhibition of N-, P/Q-type Ca2+ channels and the calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII) prevented rosmarinic acid from having effects on glutamate release. Rosmarinic acid also reduced the 4-AP-induced activation of CaMKII and the subsequent phosphorylation of synapsin I, the main presynaptic target of CaMKII. In addition, immunocytochemistry confirmed the presence of GABAA receptors. GABAA receptor agonist and antagonist blocked the inhibitory effect of rosmarinic acid on 4-AP-evoked glutamate release. Docking data also revealed that rosmarinic acid formed a hydrogen bond with the amino acid residues of GABAA receptor. These results suggested that rosmarinic acid activates GABAA receptors in cerebrocortical synaptosomes to decrease Ca2+ influx and CaMKII/synapsin I pathway to inhibit the evoked glutamate release.


2020 ◽  
Vol 133 (3) ◽  
pp. 583-594 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan McGrath ◽  
Helen Hoyt ◽  
Andrea Pence ◽  
Selwyn S. Jayakar ◽  
Xiaojuan Zhou ◽  
...  

Background Recent cryo-electron microscopic imaging studies have shown that in addition to binding to the classical extracellular benzodiazepine binding site of the α1β3γ2L γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptor, diazepam also binds to etomidate binding sites located in the transmembrane receptor domain. Because such binding is characterized by low modulatory efficacy, the authors hypothesized that diazepam would act in vitro and in vivo as a competitive etomidate antagonist. Methods The concentration-dependent actions of diazepam on 20 µM etomidate-activated and 6 µM GABA-activated currents were defined (in the absence and presence of flumazenil) in oocyte-expressed α1β3γ2L GABAA receptors using voltage clamp electrophysiology. The ability of diazepam to inhibit receptor labeling of purified α1β3γ2L GABAA receptors by 3[H]azietomidate was assessed in photoaffinity labeling protection studies. The impact of diazepam (in the absence and presence of flumazenil) on the anesthetic potencies of etomidate and ketamine was compared in a zebrafish model. Results At nanomolar concentrations, diazepam comparably potentiated etomidate-activated and GABA-activated GABAA receptor peak current amplitudes in a flumazenil-reversible manner. The half-maximal potentiating concentrations were 39 nM (95% CI, 27 to 55 nM) and 26 nM (95% CI, 16 to 41 nM), respectively. However, at micromolar concentrations, diazepam reduced etomidate-activated, but not GABA-activated, GABAA receptor peak current amplitudes in a concentration-dependent manner with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 9.6 µM (95% CI, 7.6 to 12 µM). Diazepam (12.5 to 50 µM) also right-shifted the etomidate-concentration response curve for direct activation without reducing the maximal response and inhibited receptor photoaffinity labeling by 3[H]azietomidate. When administered with flumazenil, 50 µM diazepam shifted the etomidate (but not the ketamine) concentration–response curve for anesthesia rightward, increasing the etomidate EC50 by 18-fold. Conclusions At micromolar concentrations and in the presence of flumazenil to inhibit allosteric modulation via the classical benzodiazepine binding site of the GABAA receptor, diazepam acts as an in vitro and in vivo competitive etomidate antagonist. Editor’s Perspective What We Already Know about This Topic What This Article Tells Us That Is New


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-66
Author(s):  
Z.A.M. Nworgu ◽  
S.O. Oyiana ◽  
E.E. Bafor

The ex vivo activity of the ethanol root extract of Senna occidentalis (Labaceae) on isolated rat uterus was examined in order to determine its potential in the therapy of uterine related pathologies. The ethanol root extract of S. occidentalis was investigated on the isolated uterus of rats primed with diethyl stilboestrol (0.1 mg/kg) 24 h prior to the experiment. The extract (2.5 and 7.5 mg/mL) effect on ACh (0.1 – 1.0 μg/mL)– induced contractility, in the presence of atropine (0.12 μg/mL), propranolol (8 μg/mL), CaCl2 (in Ca2+-free medium) and in the presence of 100 mM KCl was examined. The extract significantly inhibited ACh-induced uterine contractions (P< 0.05) and CaCl2- induced uterine contractions (in Ca2+-free medium) (P<0.05) in a non-competitive but concentration-dependent manner. A rightward shift of the concentration-response curve was observed in all cases. However, a bell- shaped concentration-response curve was observed for CaCl2. The inhibitory effect of the extract on ACh-induced uterine contractions was unaffected by propranolol. The extract (0.1 - 0.4 mg/mL) also inhibited KCl- induced uterine contractions. The root extract of S. Occidentalis was shown to inhibit agonist-induced uterine contractions probably through interaction with voltage-operated calcium channels. Keywords: Acetylcholine; Calcium; Propranolol; Ex vivo uterine activity; Senna occidentalis; Uterus


2005 ◽  
Vol 99 (5) ◽  
pp. 1658-1667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Wen Cheng ◽  
Min-Chi Ku ◽  
Chiu-Ming Ho ◽  
Chok-Yung Chai ◽  
Chun-Kuei Su

Using a splanchnic nerve-spinal cord preparation in vitro that could spontaneously generate sympathetic nerve discharge (SND), we investigated the roles of intraspinal GABAB receptors in the regulation of SND. Despite an age-dependent difference in sensitivity, bath applications of baclofen (Bac; GABAB-receptor agonist) consistently reduced SND in a concentration-dependent manner. The drug specificity of Bac in activation of GABAB receptors was verified by application of its antagonist saclofen (Sac) or CGP-46381 (CGP). Sac or CGP alone did not change SND. However, in the presence of Sac or CGP, the effects of Bac on SND inhibition were reversibly attenuated. The splanchnic sympathetic preganglionic neuron (SPN) was recorded by blind whole cell, patch-clamp techniques. We examined Bac effects on electrical membrane properties of SPNs. Applications of Bac reduced excitatory synaptic events, induced membrane hyperpolarizations, and inhibited SPN firing. In the presence of 12 mM Mg2+ or 0.5 μM TTX to block Ca2+- or action potential-dependent synaptic transmissions, applications of Bac induced an outward baseline current that reversed at −29 ± 6 mV. Because the K+ equilibrium potential in our experimental conditions was −100 mV, the Bac-induced currents could not simply be attributed to an alteration of K+ conductance. On the other hand, applications of Bac to Cs+-loaded SPNs reduced Cd2+-sensitive and high-voltage-activated inward currents, indicating an inhibition of voltage-gated Ca2+ currents. Our results suggest that the activation of intraspinal GABAB receptors suppresses SND via a mixture of ion events that may link to a change in Ca2+ conductance.


2007 ◽  
Vol 85 (10) ◽  
pp. 1004-1011 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Boselli ◽  
M. Santagostino Barbone ◽  
A. Lucchelli

Substance P (SP) is possibly involved in the pathophysiology of depression and anxiety. We investigated interactions between antidepressants on SP-induced effects and their potential calcium-blocking activity in the isolated guinea pig ileum. All the antidepressants tested, except pargyline, moclobemide, mianserin, and reboxetine, were able to inhibit in a concentration-dependent manner the contraction induced by 100 nmol/L SP. Clomipramine, fluoxetine, maprotiline, and amitriptyline (all at 3 μmol/L) flattened the concentration–response curves to SP, resulting in a reduction of up to 59%, 63%, 32%, and 23%, respectively, of the maximum contractile effect. All the antidepressants tested (3 μmol/L), except pargyline, moclobemide, and mianserin, produced a rightward parallel shift of the concentration–response curve to CaCl2. The L-type selective calcium blocker nifedipine and the T-type selective mibefradil showed similar behaviour against both agonists used, SP and CaCl2. The relative order of potency was nifedipine (pA2, 7.6 ± 0.1) > clomipramine (pA2, 7.0 ± 0.1) > fluoxetine (pKB, 6.5 ± 0.1) = mibefradil (pKB, 6.6 ± 0.1) > amitriptyline (pKB, 6.3 ± 0.1) = maprotiline (pKB, 6.2 ± 0.1) > fluvoxamine (pKB, 5.9 ± 0.1). The data reported in the present study suggest that the antidepressants tested did not behave as competitive antagonists versus NK1-receptor subtypes, but their inhibitory action seems to be related to their calcium-blocking properties.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document