title: Alfaxalone potentiates and mimics GABA-induced contractile responses in the guinea-pig isolated ileum.
abstract: 1. Alfaxalone (1-100 nM) potentiated gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA)-receptor-mediated contractile responses in the guinea-pig isolated ileum, with a leftward shift of the GABA concentration-response curve, and a significant potentiation of the GABA-induced contractions over the lower concentration-range for GABA (3-30 microM). Alfadalone on the other hand, did not affect contractile responses to GABA. 2. Picrotoxinin (10 microM) induced a non-parallel rightward shift of the GABA concentration-response curve, with a 50% depression of the maximum response to GABA. Alfaxalone (100 nM) potentiated the responses to GABA in the presence of picrotoxinin (10 microM) over the GABA concentration-range of 10-100 microM, causing a leftward shift of the concentration-response curve, but without affecting the depression of the maximum response by picrotoxinin. 3. Bicuculline methochloride (10 microM) caused a parallel rightward shift of the GABA concentration-response-curve; the ratio of this shift was unchanged in the presence of alfaxalone (100 microM), although the latter itself displaced the curve leftwards. 4. Alfaxalone (1-100 mM) also induced a similar potentiation of contractile responses to 3-amino-1-propanesulphonic acid (3-APS), a GABA agonist not subject to uptake. Such concentrations of alfaxalone were ineffective against contractile responses to exogenous acetylcholine. 5. Higher concentrations of alfaxalone (1 microM and above), however, elicited a GABA-like ileal contraction, sensitive to both picrotoxinin (10 microM) and bicuculline (10 microM). 6. In conclusion, alfaxalone potentiated GABAA-receptor-mediated contractile responses in the guinea-pig isolated ileum by acting at a modulatory site on GABAA-receptor-chloride-ionophore complexes of GABA-sensitive myenteric neurones, whilst high concentrations of alfaxalone exhibited a GABA-mimetic action at GABAA-receptors in the ileum. It is suggested that more than one site may exist where steroids interact with the GABAA-receptor-ionophore complexes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: D I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007082:Ileum / Q000187:drug effects; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects*; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D011277:Pregnanediones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054830:Sesterterpenes; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000777:Anesthetics; D001640:Bicuculline; D010852:Picrotoxin; D011277:Pregnanediones; D054830:Sesterterpenes; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C022961:picrotoxinin; C006477:alphaxalone