title: Allosteric positive interaction of thymol with the GABAA receptor in primary cultures of mouse cortical neurons.
abstract: Thymol is a naturally occurring phenolic monoterpene known for its anti-microbial and anti-oxidant properties. It is used in dental practice and in anaesthetic halothane preparations. Recent studies have reported enhanced GABA(A) receptor-operated chloride channel activity and increased binding affinity of [(3)H]flunitrazepam in the presence of thymol. In the present work, we more closely examined the pharmacological action of thymol on the native GABA(A) receptor by using primary cultures of cortical neurons. Thymol enhanced GABA-induced (5 microM) chloride influx at concentrations lower than those exhibiting direct activity in the absence of GABA (EC(50) = 12 microM and 135 microM, respectively). This direct effect was inhibited by competitive and non-competitive GABA(A) receptor antagonists. Thymol increased [(3)H]flunitrazepam binding (EC(50) = 131 microM) and showed a tendency to increase [(3)H]muscimol binding. These results confirm that thymol is a positive allosteric modulator of the GABA(A) receptor. The thymol structural analogues menthol and cymene, which lack an aromatic ring or a hydroxyl group, did not affect [(3)H]flunitrazepam binding. Using a pharmacophoric model that includes a hydrogen bond donor group as well as an aromatic ring with two aliphatic substituents, we propose to demonstrate the molecular essential features of these compounds to interact with GABA(A) receptors. Thymol (0-1 mM) did not affect cellular viability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurochemistry, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques de Barcelona, CSIC-IDIBAPS, Rosselló 161, Spain.
authors.forename: Daniel A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: García
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bujons
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vale
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Suñol
mesh_terms: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D018118:Chloride Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D003198:Computer Simulation; D005260:Female; D005445:Flunitrazepam / Q000378:metabolism; D018755:GABA Agonists / Q000378:metabolism; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000378:metabolism; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009118:Muscimol / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D011247:Pregnancy; D011419:Propidium / Q000494:pharmacology; D015742:Propofol / Q000494:pharmacology; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects*; D013943:Thymol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D018118:Chloride Channels; D018755:GABA Agonists; D018757:GABA Modulators; D009498:Neurotoxins; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D009118:Muscimol; D011419:Propidium; D013943:Thymol; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005445:Flunitrazepam; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D015742:Propofol