Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor-function in a rat model of hepatic encephalopathy

1990 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 185-193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bennie L. Baker ◽  
A. Leslie Morrow ◽  
John Vergalla ◽  
Steven M. Paul ◽  
E. Anthony Jones
Keyword(s):  
Hepatic Encephalopathy ◽  
Gabaa Receptor ◽  
Rat Model ◽  
Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Receptor Function

Additive Effects of Sevoflurane and Propofol on γ-Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Function

2006 ◽  
Vol 104 (6) ◽  
pp. 1176-1183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke E. Sebel ◽  
James E. Richardson ◽  
Sunil P. Singh ◽  
Shannon V. Bell ◽  
Andrew Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
Gabaa Receptor ◽  
Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Receptor Function ◽  
Human Embryonic Kidney Cells ◽  
Gaba A ◽  
Apparent Affinity ◽  
Acid Type ◽  
Transfection Method

Background Previous studies have shown that propofol and sevoflurane enhance the function of gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors. However, it is not known whether these two drugs modulate the same molecular pathways. In addition, little is known about receptor function in the presence of both propofol and sevoflurane. The aim of this study was to better understand the interactions of propofol and sevoflurane with the GABAA receptor. Methods Wild-type alpha1, beta(2), gamma(2s) GABA(A) receptor subunit complementary DNAs were transfected into human embryonic kidney cells grown on glass coverslips using a calcium phosphate transfection method. After transfection (36-72 h), cells were whole cell patch clamped and exposed to combinations of the following: 0.3-1,000 microm gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), 0-10 microm propofol, and 0-1,650 microm sevoflurane. Chemicals were delivered to the cells using two 10-channel infusion pumps and a rapid solution exchanger. Results Both propofol and sevoflurane alone enhanced the amplitude of GABA(A) receptor responses to submaximal concentrations of GABA in a dose-dependent manner. The enhancement was underpinned by an increase in the apparent affinity of the receptor for GABA. Coapplication of both anesthetics further enhanced the apparent affinity of the receptor for GABA. Conclusions Response surface modeling of the potentiation of GABA responses (0.3-1,000 microm) by sevoflurane and propofol revealed that the two anesthetics modulated receptor function in an additive manner. These results are consistent with recent mutagenesis studies, suggesting that these two drugs have separate binding sites and converging pathways of action on the GABAA receptor.

Hemoglobin metabolites mimic benzodiazepines and are possible mediators of hepatic encephalopathy

Blood ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 102 (4) ◽  
pp. 1525-1528 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J. Ruscito ◽  
Neil L. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Hepatic Encephalopathy ◽  
Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Liver Failure ◽  
Gabaa Receptor ◽  
Protoporphyrin Ix ◽  
Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Endogenous Ligands ◽  
Inhibitory Synaptic Transmission ◽  
Clinical Observations

Abstract Liver failure is often accompanied by cognitive impairment and coma, a syndrome known as hepatic encephalopathy (HE). The administration of flumazenil, a benzodiazepine (BZ) antagonist, is effective in reversing the symptoms of HE in many patients. These clinical observations gave rise to notions of an endogenous BZ-like mechanism in HE, but to date no viable candidate compounds have been characterized. We show here that the hemoglobin (Hb) metabolites hemin and protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) interact with the BZ site on the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor and enhance inhibitory synaptic transmission in a manner similar to diazepam and zolpidem. This finding suggests that hemin and PPIX are neuroactive porphyrins capable of acting as endogenous ligands for the central BZ site. The accumulation of these porphyrins under pathophysiologic conditions provides a potentially novel mechanism for the central manifestations of HE.

scholarly journals An association study in the Taiwan Biobank elicits the GABAA receptor genes GABRB3, GABRA5, and GABRG3 as candidate loci for sleep duration in the Taiwanese population

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheue-Jane Hou ◽  
Shih-Jen Tsai ◽  
Po-Hsiu Kuo ◽  
Wan-Yu Lin ◽  
Yu-Li Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Association Study ◽  
Gabaa Receptor ◽  
Sleep Duration ◽  
Gabaa Receptors ◽  
Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Bonferroni Correction ◽  
Taiwanese Population ◽  
Sleep Timing

Abstract Background Gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors mainly mediate the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid, which is the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. Abundant evidence suggests that GABAA receptors play a key role in sleep-regulating processes. No genetic association study has explored the relationships between GABAA receptor genes and sleep duration, sleep quality, and sleep timing in humans. Methods We determined the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the GABAA receptor genes GABRA1, GABRA2, GABRB3, GABRA5, and GABRG3 and sleep duration, sleep quality, and sleep timing in the Taiwan Biobank with a sample of 10,127 Taiwanese subjects. There were 10,142 subjects in the original study cohort. We excluded 15 subjects with a medication history of sedative-hypnotics. Results Our data revealed an association of the GABRB3-GABRA5-GABRG3 gene cluster with sleep duration, which has not been previously identified: rs79333046 (beta = − 0.07; P = 1.21 × 10–3) in GABRB3, rs189790076 (beta = 0.92; P = 1.04 × 10–3) in GABRA5, and rs147619342 (beta = − 0.72; P = 3.97 × 10–3) in GABRG3. The association between rs189790076 in GABRA5 and sleep duration remained significant after Bonferroni correction. A variant (rs12438141) in GABRB3 was also found to act as a potential expression quantitative trait locus. Additionally, we discovered interactions between variants in the GABRB3-GABRA5-GABRG3 gene cluster and lifestyle factors, such as tea and coffee consumption, smoking, and physical activity, that influenced sleep duration, although some interactions became nonsignificant after Bonferroni correction. We also found interactions among GABRB3, GABRA5, and GABRG3 that affected sleep duration. Furthermore, we identified an association of rs7165524 (beta = − 0.06; P = 2.20 × 10–3) in GABRA5 with sleep quality and an association of rs79465949 (beta = − 0.12; P = 3.95 × 10–3) in GABRB3 with sleep timing, although these associations became nonsignificant after Bonferroni correction. However, we detected no evidence of an association of individual SNPs in GABRA1 and GABRA2. Conclusions Our results indicate that rs189790076 in GABRA5 and gene–gene interactions among GABRB3, GABRA5, and GABRG3 may contribute to sleep duration in the Taiwanese population.

Alpha-subunit of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II enhances gamma-aminobutyric acid and inhibitory synaptic responses of rat neurons in vitro

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 2099-2106 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Wang ◽  
G. Cheng ◽  
M. Kolaj ◽  
M. Randic
Keyword(s):  
Protein Kinase ◽  
Gabaa Receptor ◽  
Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Alpha Subunit ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Patch Clamp Technique ◽  
Dependent Protein Kinase ◽  
Calcium Calmodulin Dependent ◽  
Protein Kinase Ii ◽  
Dependent Protein

1. Here we report that in acutely isolated rat spinal dorsal horn neurons, the gamma-aminobutyric acid-A (GABAA) receptor can be regulated by calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM-KII). Intracellularly applied, the alpha-subunit of CaM-KII enhanced GABAA-receptor-activated current recorded with the use of the whole cell patch-clamp technique. This effect was associated with reduced desensitization of GABA responses. 2. GABA-induced currents are also potentiated by calyculin A, an inhibitor of protein phosphatases 1 and 2A. 3. Conventional intracellular recordings were made from hippocampal CA1 neurons in slices to determine the effect of intracellular application of CaM-KII on inhibitory synaptic potentials evoked by electrical stimulation of the stratum oriens/alveus. The inhibitory synaptic potential was enhanced by CaM-KII; this mechanism may contribute to long-term enhancement of inhibitory synaptic transmission and may also play a role in other forms of plasticity in the mammalian brain.

Antagonism of the Antinocifensive Action of Halothane by Intrathecal Administration of GABA-A Receptor Antagonists

1996 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 1205-1214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peggy Mason ◽  
Casey A. Owens ◽  
Donna L. Hammond
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Receptor Antagonist ◽  
Gabaa Receptor ◽  
Glycine Receptor ◽  
Intrathecal Administration ◽  
Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Receptor Antagonists ◽  
Response Latencies ◽  
Halothane Concentration

Background The hind brain and the spinal cord, regions that contain high concentrations of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and GABA receptors, have been implicated as sites of action of inhalational anesthetics. Previous studies have established that general anesthetics potentiate the effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid at the GABAA receptor. It was therefore hypothesized that the suppression of nocifensive movements during anesthesia is due to an enhancement of GABAA receptor-mediated transmission within the spinal cord. Methods Rats in which an intrathecal catheter had been implanted 1 week earlier were anesthetized with halothane. Core temperature was maintained at a steady level. After MAC determination, the concentration of halothane was adjusted to that at which the rats last moved in response to tail clamping. Saline, a GABAA, a GABAB, or glycine receptor antagonist was then injected intrathecally. The latency to move in response to application of the tail clamp was redetermined 5 min later, after which the halothane concentration was increased by 0.2%. Response latencies to application of the noxious stimulus were measured at 7-min intervals during the subsequent 35 min. To determine whether these antagonists altered baseline response latencies by themselves, another experiment was conducted in which the concentration of halothane was not increased after intrathecal administration of GABAA receptor antagonists. Results Intrathecal administration of the GABAA receptor antagonists bicuculline (0.3 micrograms) or picrotoxin (0.3, 1.0 micrograms) antagonized the suppression of nocifensive movement produced by the small increase in halothane concentration. In contrast, the antinocifensive effect of the increase in halothane concentration was not attenuated by the GABAB receptor antagonist CGP 35348 or the glycine receptor antagonist strychnine. By themselves, the GABAA receptor antagonists did not alter response latency in rats anesthetized with sub-MAC concentrations of halothane. Conclusions Intrathecal administration of bicuculline or picrotoxin, at doses that do not change the latency to pinch-evoked movement when administered alone, antagonized the suppression of noxious-evoked movement produced by halothane concentrations equal to or greater than MAC. These results suggest that enhancement of GABAA receptor-mediated transmission within the spinal cord contributes to halothane's ability to suppress nocifensive movements.

scholarly journals A Conserved Tyrosine in the β2Subunit M4 Segment Is a Determinant of γ-Aminobutyric Acid Type A Receptor Sensitivity to Propofol

2007 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 412-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
James E. Richardson ◽  
Paul S. Garcia ◽  
Kate K. O'Toole ◽  
Jason M. C. Derry ◽  
Shannon V. Bell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binding Site ◽  
Type A ◽  
Receptor Activation ◽  
Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
Gamma Aminobutyric Acid ◽  
General Anesthetics ◽  
Receptor Function ◽  
293 Cells ◽  
Acid Type ◽  
Normal Sensitivity

Background The gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABAA-R) beta subunits are critical targets for the actions for several intravenous general anesthetics, but the precise nature of the anesthetic binding sites are unknown. In addition, little is known about the role the fourth transmembrane (M4) segment of the receptor plays in receptor function. The aim of this study was to better define the propofol binding site on the GABAA-R by conducting a tryptophan scan in the M4 segment of the beta2 subunit. Methods Seven tryptophan mutations were introduced into the C-terminal end of the M4 segment of the GABAA-R beta2 subunit. GABAA-R subunit complementary DNAs were transfected into human embryonic kidney 293 cells grown on glass coverslips. After transfection (36-72 h), coverslips were transferred to a perfusion chamber to assay receptor function. Cells were whole cell patch clamped and exposed to GABA, propofol, etomidate, and pregnenolone. Chemicals were delivered to the cells using two 10-channel infusion pumps and a rapid solution exchanger. Results All tryptophan mutations were well tolerated, and with one exception, all resulted in minimal changes in receptor activation by GABA. One mutation, beta2(Y444W), selectively suppressed the ability of propofol to enhance receptor function while retaining normal sensitivity to etomidate and pregnenolone. Conclusions This is the first report of a mutation that selectively reduces propofol sensitivity without altering the action of etomidate. The reduction in propofol sensitivity is consistent with the loss of a hydrogen bond within the propofol binding site. These results also suggest a possible orientation of the propofol molecule within its binding site.

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