The Benzodiazepine Diazepam Potentiates Responses of α1β2γ 2L γ-Aminobutyric Acid Type A Receptors Activated by either γ-Aminobutyric Acid or Allosteric Agonists

Ping Li, Megan M. Eaton, Joe Henry Steinbach, Gustav Akk

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

23 Scopus citations

Abstract

BACKGROUND:: The γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) type A receptor is a target for several anesthetics, anticonvulsants, anxiolytics, and sedatives. Neurosteroids, barbiturates, and etomidate both potentiate responses to GABA and allosterically activate the receptor. We examined the ability of a benzodiazepine, diazepam, to potentiate responses to allosteric agonists. METHODS:: The GABA type A receptors were expressed in human embryonic kidney 293 cells and studied using whole-cell and single-channel patch clamp. The receptors were activated by the orthosteric agonist GABA and allosteric agonists pentobarbital, etomidate, and alfaxalone. RESULTS:: Diazepam is equally potent at enhancing responses to orthosteric and allosteric agonists. Diazepam EC50s were 25 ± 4, 26 ± 6, 33 ± 6, and 26 ± 3 nm for receptors activated by GABA, pentobarbital, etomidate, and alfaxalone, respectively (mean ± SD, 5-6 cells at each condition). Mutations to the benzodiazepine-binding site (α1(H101C), γ2(R144C), γ2(R197C)) reduced or removed potentiation for all agonists, and an inverse agonist at the benzodiazepine site reduced responses to all agonists. Single-channel data elicited by GABA demonstrate that in the presence of 1 μm diazepam the prevalence of the longest open-time component is increased from 13 ± 7 (mean ± SD, n = 5 patches) to 27 ± 8% (n = 3 patches) and the rate of channel closing is decreased from 129 ± 28 s to 47 ± 6 s (mean±SD) CONCLUSIONS:: We conclude that benzodiazepines do not act by enhancing affinity of the orthosteric site for GABA but rather by increasing channel gating efficacy. The results also demonstrate the presence of interactions between allosteric activators and potentiators, raising a possibility of effects on dosage requirements or changes in side effects. .

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1417-1425
Number of pages9
JournalAnesthesiology
Volume118
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2013

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The Benzodiazepine Diazepam Potentiates Responses of α1β2γ 2L γ-Aminobutyric Acid Type A Receptors Activated by either γ-Aminobutyric Acid or Allosteric Agonists'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this