Benzodiazepine and beta-carboline modulation of GABA-stimulated 36Cl-influx in cultured spinal cord neurons.
GABAA agonists stimulate 36Cl-influx in spinal cord cultured neurons in a concentration-dependent manner. This effect of GABAA receptor stimulation is enhanced by benzodiazepines like clonazepam, diazepam and flurazepam and attenuated by (+)bicuculline and picrotoxinin. The beta-carbolines, methyl-6, 7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (DMCM) and propyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta-CCPr) exhibited opposite effects, with DMCM attenuating, while beta-CCPr potentiating GABA's effect. These results are consistent with the behavioral and electrophysiological effect of benzodiazepines and beta-carbolines with GABA receptor complex.
D000818:Animals; D002243:Carbolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002713:Chlorine / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D011868:Radioisotopes; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000502:physiology*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000502:physiology*
D002243:Carbolines; D011868:Radioisotopes; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D002713:Chlorine; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid