title: Modulation of ionic currents through GABAA receptor subtypes by endogenous steroids.
abstract: GABAA receptors were expressed in Xenopus oocytes by injecting messenger RNAs from chick retina and chick cortex, and the potency of 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one (3 alpha-OH-DHP) and 5 alpha-pregnane-3 alpha, 21-diol-20-one (THDOC) was investigated by electrophysiology under voltage clamp conditions. For the receptors of chick retina, 3 alpha-OH-DHP (100 nM) and THDOC (100 nM) augmented GABA actions (peak current) 1.6 times (n = 6) and 1.5 times (n = 7), respectively. The currents induced by 0.3-10 microM GABA for the receptors of the chick retina were sensitive to bicuculline, pentobarbital, and diazepam. GABAA receptors in the chick retina in vivo as well as the receptors in the brain may be functionally modulated by endogenous steroids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Information and Computer Science, Faculty of Engineering, Iwate University, Morioka, Japan.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shingai
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fukushima
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogurusu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000502:physiology; D002642:Chick Embryo; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D007473:Ion Channels; D009865:Oocytes; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000235:genetics*; D012160:Retina / Q000502:physiology*; D013256:Steroids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D007473:Ion Channels; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D013256:Steroids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid