ISSN:
1432-2072
Keywords:
Key words Hyperbaric exposure
;
Helium-oxygen gas mixture
;
γ-Aminobutryic acid (GABA)
;
N-Methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA)
;
4
;
5
;
6
;
7-Tetrahydroisoxazolo-pyridin-3-ol (THIP)
;
3α-Hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one (3α
;
5β-P)
;
Loss of righting reflex (LORR)
;
Anticonvulsant effect
;
GABA-activated chloride ion uptake
;
Central nervous system
;
Benzodiazepines
;
Barbiturates
;
Neuroactive steroid
;
C57BL/6 mice
;
Ethanol antagonist
;
GABAA receptor complex
;
Ligand-gated ion channels
;
Allosteric coupling hypothesis
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The present study uses increased atmospheric pressure as an ethanol antagonist to test the hypothesis that allosteric coupling pathways in the GABAA receptor complex represent initial sites of action for ethanol. This was accomplished using behavioral and in vitro measures to determine the effects of pressure on ethanol and other GABAergic drugs in C57BL/6 and LS mice. Behaviorally, exposure to 12 times normal atmospheric pressure (ATA) of a helium-oxygen gas mixture (heliox) antagonized loss of righting reflex (LORR) induced by the allosteric modulators ethanol and pentobarbital, but did not antagonize LORR induced by the direct GABA agonist 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo-pyridin-3-ol (THIP). Similarly, exposure to 12 ATA heliox antagonized the anticonvulsant effects verses isoniazid of ethanol, diazepam and pentobarbital. Biochemically, exposure to 12 ATA heliox antagonized potentiation of GABA-activated 36Cl– uptake by ethanol, flunitrazepam and pentobarbital in LS mouse brain preparations, but did not alter GABA-activated 36Cl– uptake per se. In contrast to its antagonist effect versus other allosteric modulators, pressure did not antagonize these behavioral or in vitro effects induced by the neuroactive steroid, 3α-hydroxy-5β-pregnan-20-one (3α,5β-P). These findings add to evidence that pressure directly and selectively antagonizes drug effects mediated through allosteric coupling pathways. The results fit predictions, and thus support the hypothesis that allosteric coupling pathways in GABAA receptors represent initial sites of action for ethanol. Collectively, the results suggest that there may be common physicochemical and underlying structural characteristics that define ethanol sensitive regions of receptor proteins and/or their associated membranes that can be identified by pressure within (e.g., GABAA) and possibly across (e.g., GABAA, NMDA, 5HT3) receptors.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s002130050843
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