title: Modulation of GABAergic synaptic transmission by the non-benzodiazepine anxiolytic etifoxine.
abstract: We have investigated the effects of 2-ethylamino-6-chloro-4-methyl-4-phenyl-4H-3,1-benzoxazine hydrochloride (etifoxine) on GABA(A) receptor function. Etifoxine displaced [(35)S]TBPS (t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate) from GABA(A) receptors of rat cortical membranes with an IC(50) of 6.7+/-0.8 microM and [(3)H]PK11195 from peripheral (mitochondrial)-type benzodiazepine receptors (PBRs) of rat heart homogenates with an IC(50) of 27.3+/-1.0 microM. Etifoxine displayed anxiolytic properties in an anticonflict test in rats, and potentiated GABA(A) receptor-mediated membrane currents elicited by submaximal (5-10 microM) but not saturating (0.5 mM) concentrations of GABA in cultured rat hypothalamic and spinal cord dorsal horn neurones. In hypothalamic cultures, etifoxine induced a dose-dependent inward current for concentrations >1 microM which reflected the post-synaptic potentiation of a small ( approximately 20 pA) tonic and bicuculline-sensitive GABA(A) receptor-gated Cl(-) current. Etifoxine also increased the frequency of spontaneous and miniature GABAergic inhibitory post-synaptic currents without changing their amplitude and kinetic characteristics. Both effects of etifoxine were insensitive to flumazenil (10 microM), an antagonist of central-type benzodiazepine sites present at GABA(A) receptors, but were partly inhibited by PK11195 (10 microM) an antagonist of PBRs which control the synthesis of neurosteroids. Our results indicate that etifoxine potentiates GABA(A) receptor-function by a direct allosteric effect and by an indirect mechanism involving the activation of PBRs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Neurophysiologie cellulaire et intégrée, UMR 7519 CNRS, Université Louis Pasteur, 21 rue René Descartes, 67084, Strasbourg Cedex, France. schlichter@neurochem.u-strasbg.fr
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schlichter
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rybalchenko
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Poisbeau
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verleye
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gillardin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004327:Drinking Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008566:Membranes / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010078:Oxazines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D020671:Posterior Horn Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects*; D013779:Tetrodotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D058787:GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; D007546:Isoquinolines; D010078:Oxazines; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D013462:Sulfur Radioisotopes; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents; D005442:Flumazenil; D013779:Tetrodotoxin; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C037476:tert-butylbicyclophosphorothionate; C002125:etifoxine; D001640:Bicuculline; C037850:PK 11195