Mesenchymal deficiency of Notch1 attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

Notch signaling pathway is involved in the regulation of cell fate, differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis in development and disease. Previous studies suggest the importance of Notch1 in myofibroblast differentiation in lung alveogenesis and fibrosis. However, direct in vivo evidence of Notch1-mediated myofibroblast differentiation is lacking. In this study, we examined the effects of conditional mesenchymal-specific deletion of Notch1 on pulmonary fibrosis. Crossing of mice bearing the floxed Notch1 gene with α2(I) collagen enhancer-Cre-ER(T)-bearing mice successfully generated progeny with a conditional knockout (CKO) of Notch1 in collagen I-expressing (mesenchymal) cells on treatment with tamoxifen (Notch1 CKO). Because Notch signaling is known to be activated in the bleomycin model of pulmonary fibrosis, control and Notch1 CKO mice were analyzed for their responses to bleomycin treatment. The results showed significant attenuation of pulmonary fibrosis in CKO relative to control mice, as examined by collagen deposition, myofibroblast differentiation, and histopathology. However, there were no significant differences in inflammatory or immune cell influx between bleomycin-treated CKO and control mouse lungs. Analysis of isolated lung fibroblasts confirmed absence of Notch1 expression in cells from CKO mice, which contained fewer myofibroblasts and significantly diminished collagen I expression relative to those from control mice. These findings revealed an essential role for Notch1-mediated myofibroblast differentiation in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis.

Dental, skeletal asymmetries and functional characteristics in Class II subdivision malocclusions

Treatment outcomes of Angle Class II subdivision malocclusions may be compromised because of the uncertainty of the aetiology. Previous studies have reported controversial ideas about the origins, but the existence of a primary contributor still remains unknown. Functional factors have been mentioned as a probable cause, but until now, there have been no supporting data. This study was a cross-sectional investigation of the characteristics of Angle Class II subdivision malocclusion, including dental, skeletal and functional factors, by comparison of the subdivision group and the normal occlusion group. The evaluations of dental and skeletal asymmetries of both groups were carried out by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and analysis of dental casts. The functional deviations were evaluated by cast mounting and measuring. In the subdivision group, the asymmetric position of the glenoid fossa was found to be the most significant skeletal asymmetry. No dentoalveolar asymmetry was found in this group. The most important finding was that, in subdivision malocclusions, functional deviation resulting in pseudoasymmetry occurred in 32.86% of the study participants. This deviation is probably related to the disharmonious arch width between maxillary and mandibular dental arches in the premolar section. The origin of Angle Class II subdivision malocclusion is multifactorial, with dental, skeletal and functional factors included. Functional deviation occurs, probably due to dental arch width disharmony. Asymmetric position of the glenoid fossa may account for most of the skeletal asymmetry.

Genetic diversity in North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) grown in Ontario detected by RAPD analysis

Genetic diversity within North American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) grown in Ontario was investigated at the DNA level using the randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method via the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 420 random decamers were initially screened against DNA from four ginseng plants and 78.8% of them generated RAPD fragments. Thirty-six of the decamers that generated highly repeatable polymorphic RAPD markers were selected for further RAPD analysis of the ginseng population. With these primers, 352 discernible DNA fragments were produced from DNA of 48 ginseng plants, corresponding to an average of 9.8 fragments per primer, of which over 45% were polymorphic. The similarity coefficients among the DNA of ginseng plants analyzed were low, ranging from 0.149 to 0.605 with a mean of 0.412, indicating that a high degree of genetic diversity exists in the ginseng population. Lower levels of genetic diversity were detected among 3-year-old ginseng plants selected on the basis of greater plant height than among the plants randomly selected from the same subpopulation or over the whole population, suggesting that genetic factors at least partly contribute to morphological variation within the ginseng population and that visual selection can be effective in identifying the genetic differences. The significance of a high degree of genetic variation in the ginseng population on its potential for improvement by breeding is also discussed.

Novel mutations in Myoclonin1/EFHC1 in sporadic and familial juvenile myoclonic epilepsy

BACKGROUND

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) accounts for 3 to 12% of all epilepsies. In 2004, the GENESS Consortium demonstrated four missense mutations in Myoclonin1/EFHC1 of chromosome 6p12.1 segregating in 20% of Hispanic families with JME.

OBJECTIVE

To examine what percentage of consecutive JME clinic cases have mutations in Myoclonin1/EFHC1.

METHODS

We screened 44 consecutive patients from Mexico and Honduras and 67 patients from Japan using heteroduplex analysis and direct sequencing.

RESULTS

We found five novel mutations in transcripts A and B of Myoclonin1/EFHC1. Two novel heterozygous missense mutations (c.755C>A and c.1523C>G) in transcript A occurred in both a singleton from Mexico and another singleton from Japan. A deletion/frameshift (C.789del.AV264fsx280) in transcript B was present in a mother and daughter from Mexico. A nonsense mutation (c.829C>T) in transcript B segregated in four clinically and seven epileptiform-EEG affected members of a large Honduran family. The same nonsense mutation (c.829C>T) occurred as a de novo mutation in a sporadic case. Finally, we found a three-base deletion (-364--362del.GAT) in the promoter region in a family from Japan.

CONCLUSION

Nine percent of consecutive juvenile myoclonic epilepsy cases from Mexico and Honduras clinics and 3% of clinic patients from Japan carry mutations in Myoclonin1/EFCH1. These results represent the highest number and percentage of mutations found for a juvenile myoclonic epilepsy causing gene of any population group.

Purification and characterization of a lipopeptide produced by Bacillus thuringiensis CMB26

AIMS

To isolate an antagonist for use in the biological control of phytopathogenic fungi including Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, then to purify and characterize the biocontrol agent produced by the antagonist.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Bacteria that exhibited antifungal activity against the causative agent pepper anthracnose were isolated from soil, with Bacillus thuringiensis CMB26 showing the strongest activity. A lipopeptide produced by B. thuringiensis CMB26 was precipitated by adjusting the pH 2 with 3 n HCl and extracted using chloroform/methanol (2:1, v/v) and reversed-phase HPLC. The molecular weight was estimated as 1447 Da by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Scanning electron and optical microscopies showed that the lipopeptide has activity against Escherichia coli O157:ac88, larvae of the cabbage white butterfly (Pieris rapae crucivora) and phytopathogenic fungi. The lipopeptide had cyclic structure and the amino acid composition was L-Glu, D-Orn, L-Tyr, D-allo-Thr, D-Ala, D-Val, L-Pro, and L-Ile in a molar ratio of 3:1:2:1:1:2:1:1. The purified lipopeptide showed the same amino acid composition as fengycin, but differed slightly in fatty acid composition, in which the double bond was at carbons 13-14 (m/z 303, 316) and there was no methyl group.

CONCLUSION

A lipopeptide was purified and characterized from B. thuringiensis CMB26 and found to be similar to the lipopeptide fengycin. This lipopeptide can function as a biocontrol agent, and exhibits fungicidal, bactericidal, and insecticidal activity.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Compared with surfactin and iturin, the lipopeptide from B. thuringiensis CMB26 showed stronger antifungal activity against phytopathogenic fungi. This lipopeptide is a candidate for the biocontrol of pathogens in agriculture.

[Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy in chromosome 6p12: clinical and genetic advances]

Amongst idiopathic generalized epilepsies, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) is the most common, accounting for 12% to 30% of all epilepsies in the Western world. Classic JME consists of awakening myoclonias, grand mal convulsions and EEG 4 to 6 Hz polyspike waves that appear in adolescence. Probands and affected family members do not have pyknoleptic 3Hz spike and wave absences. However, in 10 to 30% of patients, rare or spanioleptic polyspike wave absences appear. In 1988,1995,1996,we mapped classic JME to a 7 cM locus in chromosome 6p12 11, called EJM1, using families from Los Angeles and Belize. In 2001,we studied one large family from Belize and 21 new families from Los Angeles and Mexico Cities, aided by a BAC/PAC based physical map and 6 new dinucleotide repeats, to narrow EJM1 to an interval between D6S272 and D6S1573. In 2002, we found myoclonin, the putative gene for typical JME in 6p12. At the congress, we will reveal the identity of the myoclonin gene, its putative function and discuss the significance of this discovery in the JME population at large.

A novel cloud-point extraction process for preconcentrating selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aqueous solution

A novel but simple cloud-point extraction (CPE) process is developed to preconcentrate the trace of selected polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with the use of the readily biodegradable nonionic surfactant Tergitol 15-S-7 as extractant. The concentrations of PAHs, mixtures of naphthalene and phenanthrene as well as pyrene, in the spiked samples were determined with the new CPE process at ambient temperature (23 degrees C) followed by high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) with fluorescence detection. More than 80% of phenanthrene and pyrene, respectively, and 96% of naphthalene initially present in the aqueous solutions with concentrations near or below their aqueous solubilities were recovered using this new CPE process. Importantly Tergitol 15-S-7 does not give any fluorometric signal to interfere with fluorescence detection of PAHs in the UV range. No special washing step is, thus, required to remove surfactant before HPLC analyses. Different experimental conditions were studied. The optimum conditions for the preconcentration and determination of these selected PAHs at ambient temperature have been established as the following: (1) 3 wt% surfactant; (2) addition of 0.5 M Na2SO4; (3) 10 min for equilibration time; and (4) 3000 rpm for centrifugal speed with duration of 10 min.

[Inhibitive effects of lip repair on maxillary growth in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate]

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to assess the isolated effects of lip repair on inhibition of maxillary growth in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate.

METHODS

The lateral cephalometric analysis were applied to 20 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate who only had lip repaired in childhood, 32 patients with unilateral cleft lip and palate who had both lip and palate repaired in childhood, as well as 37 normal Chinese of the same age as controls.

RESULTS

Both complete unilateral cleft lip and palate groups had almost the same significant degree of maxillary retrusion compared with the normal control group.

CONCLUSION

Lip repair is one of important factors that could inhibit maxillary growth in patients with complete unilateral cleft lip and palate.

Modulation of AMPA receptors by a novel organic nitrate

Positive modulators of alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid (AMPA) channels reduce desensitization and alter their gating kinetics. We have discovered a novel compound nitric oxide-mimetic that similarly modulates the AMPA receptor by reducing desensitization. This, designated GT-005, belongs to the organic nitrate family that includes the nitrovasodilator nitroglycerine. In acutely isolated hippocampal neurons, GT-005 enhanced kainate (100 microM)-evoked currents with an EC50 of 1.7+/-0.2 mM and a 176+/-10% maximal increase in the steady-state current response. Similar results were found in cultured hippocampal neurons (EC50 of 1.3+/-0.2 mM and a maximal 83+/-14% increase in the steady-state current response). GT-005 reduced the desensitization of glutamate-evoked currents and slowed the onset of desensitization. This compound also increased the rate of recovery from the desensitized state. With respect to alteration of the excitatory synaptic transmission, GT-005 delayed the decay and increased the frequency of spontaneous miniature excitatory postsynaptic currents (mepsc) recorded in cultured hippocampal neurons.

Distinct functional and pharmacological properties of tonic and quantal inhibitory postsynaptic currents mediated by gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) receptors in hippocampal neurons

gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA), the principal inhibitory neurotransmitter, activates a persistent low amplitude tonic current in several brain regions in addition to conventional synaptic currents. Here we demonstrate that GABA(A) receptors mediating the tonic current in hippocampal neurons exhibit functional and pharmacological properties different from those of quantal synaptic currents. Patch-clamp techniques were used to characterize miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs) and the tonic GABAergic current recorded in CA1 pyramidal neurons in rat hippocampal slices and in dissociated neurons grown in culture. The competitive GABA(A) receptor antagonists, bicuculline and picrotoxin, blocked both the mIPSCs and the tonic current. In contrast, mIPSCs but not the tonic current were inhibited by gabazine (SR-95531). Coapplication experiments and computer simulations revealed that gabazine bound to the receptors responsible for the tonic current but did not prevent channel activation. However, gabazine competitively inhibited bicuculline blockade. The unitary conductance of the GABA(A) receptors underlying the tonic current (approximately 6 pS) was less than the main conductance of channels activated during quantal synaptic transmission (approximately 15--30 pS). Furthermore, compounds that potentiate GABA(A) receptor function including the benzodiazepine, midazolam, and anesthetic, propofol, prolonged the duration of mIPSCs and increased tonic current amplitude in cultured neurons to different extents. Clinically-relevant concentrations of midazolam and propofol caused a greater increase in tonic current compared with mIPSCs, as measured by total charge transfer. In summary, the receptors underlying the tonic current are functionally and pharmacologically distinct from quantally activated synaptic receptors and these receptors represent a novel target for neurodepressive drugs.

Regulation of T cell activation, anxiety, and male aggression by RGS2

Regulators of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins accelerate the GTPase activity of Galpha protein subunits in vitro, negatively regulating G protein-coupled receptor signaling. The physiological role of mammalian RGS proteins is largely unknown. The RGS family member rgs2 was cloned as an immediate early response gene up-regulated in T lymphocytes after activation. To investigate the role of RGS2 in vivo, we generated rgs2-deficient mice. We show that targeted mutation of rgs2 in mice leads to reduced T cell proliferation and IL-2 production, which translates in an impaired antiviral immunity in vivo. Interestingly, rgs2(-/-) mice also display increased anxiety responses and decreased male aggression in the absence of cognitive or motor deficits. RGS2 also controls synaptic development and basal electrical activity in hippocampal CA1 neurons. Thus, RGS2 plays an important role in T cell activation, synapse development in the hippocampus, and emotive behaviors.

Stilbene glycoside sulfates from Polygonum cuspidatum

Ten naturally occurring stilbene glycoside sulfates (1-10) were isolated from an aqueous extract of the root of Polygonum cuspidatum. Their structures were established based on chemical evidence and spectroscopic techniques, including 2D NMR methods.

Immunocytochemical localization of putative gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor subunits in the head ganglia of Periplaneta americana using an anti-RDL C-terminal antibody

A polyclonal antibody raised against a 17 amino acid polypeptide (the predicted C-terminal sequence of the cloned Drosophila melanogaster gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor subunit, RDL) was used to investigate the distribution of GABA receptor subunit(s) of this type in the nervous system of the cockroach Periplaneta americana. Intense staining was detected in the calyces of the mushroom bodies, glomeruli of the antennal lobes, lower central body, the corpora cardiaca and several cell layers of the medulla and the lobula regions of the optic lobe. The most intense immunocytochemical staining was in the suboesophageal ganglion. Control sections pre-incubated with the primary antibody and conjugated peptide were not stained. Thus, it appears that a GABA receptor subunit of the RDL type is located in cockroach brain regions involved in the processing of visual, olfactory and mechanosensory inputs to the nervous system. Since the corpora cardiaca reacted to this antiserum, this type of GABA receptor may also be involved in the regulation of neurosecretory activity.

[A study on the intrinsic compensative mechanism of craniofacial soft and hard tissue structures of Uygur adults with normal occlusion]

OBJECTIVE

To study the intrinsic compensative mechanism of craniofacial soft and hard tissue structures of Uygur adults with normal occlusion and establish standard cephalometric values to evaluate craniofacial soft and hard tissue structures of normal Uygur adults.

METHODS

Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 93 Uygur adults with normal occlusion (43 men and 50 women) were evaluated with the same standard. Their age ranged from 18 to 25 years old, and they had normal and well-balanced faces without receiving any orthodontic treatment. Based on the study of craniofacial soft and hard tissue structures with normal occlusion, the horizontal tendency, the vertical tendency pattern and the medial pattern of craniofacial soft and hard tissue structures were compared, and the intrinsic compensative mechanism in the inner structures of the horizontal and the vertical tendency patterns was investigated. Finally 21 indexes were analysed by mean squar deviation and Newman-Keuls test.

RESULTS

The obvious compensative changes in the horizontal and vertical tendency patterns were found in teeth, skeleton and soft-tissues. 1. When the horizontal tendency was compared with the medial pattern, the value of ODI and angles of FH-NA and FH-NB increased (P < 0.01), while the angle of SN-PP decreased (P < 0.01). It showed that the anterior maxilla rotated in the counter-clockwise direction, and the anterior mandible rotated in the clockwise direction. The angle of U1-L1 increased (P < 0.01), which meant that the inclination of anterior teeth decreased. 2. When the vertical tendency was compared with the medial pattern, the value of ODI decreased (P < 0.01), while the height of ANS-Me, U1-PP, L1-MP, and the thickness of LL-SnPg increased (P < 0.01); The angle of L1-MP decreased (P < 0.05), while the length of Sn-Stms increased (P < 0.05). These results showed that there was an obvious positive relationship between hard and soft tissues. The soft tissue thickness could compensate the changes of hard tissues to keep the facial patterns harmony.

CONCLUSION

Normal occlusion depends on the homeostasis of teeth, skeleton and soft tissues, but doesn't only depend on the normal craniofacial soft and hard tissue structures respectively. The intrinsic compensative mechanism plays an important role in forming normal occlusion, therefore, doctors should choose the best treatment to obtain optimal individual intrinsic compensative mechanism and achieve an optimal balance between the craniofacial structures and the occlusion.

In CA1 pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus protein kinase C regulates calcium-dependent inactivation of NMDA receptors

The NMDA subtype of the glutamate-gated channel exhibits a high permeability to Ca(2+). The influx of Ca(2+) through NMDA channels is limited by a rapid and Ca(2+)/calmodulin (CaM)-dependent inactivation that results from a competitive displacement of cytoskeleton-binding proteins from the NR1 subunit of the receptor by Ca(2+)/CaM (Zhang et al., 1998; Krupp et al., 1999). The C terminal of this subunit can be phosphorylated by protein kinase C (PKC) (Tingley et al., 1993). The present study sought to investigate whether PKC regulates Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation of the NMDA channel in hippocampal neurons. Activation of endogenous PKC by 4beta-phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate enhanced peak (I(p)) and depressed steady-state (I(ss)) NMDA-evoked currents, resulting in a reduction in the ratio of these currents (I(ss)/I(p)). We demonstrated previously that PKC activity enhances I(P) via a sequential activation of the focal adhesion kinase cell adhesion kinase beta/proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2 (CAKbeta/Pyk2) and the nonreceptor tyrosine kinase Src (Huang et al., 1999; Lu et al., 1999). Here, we report that the PKC-induced depression of I(ss) is unrelated to the PKC/CAKbeta/Src-signaling pathway but depends on the concentration of extracellular Ca(2+). Intracellular applications of CaM reduced I(ss)/I(p) and occluded the Ca(2+)-dependent effect of phorbol esters on I(ss.) Moreover, increasing the concentration of intracellular Ca(2+) buffer or intracellular application of the inhibitory CaM-binding peptide (KY9) greatly reduced the phorbol ester-induced depression of I(ss). Taken together, these results suggest that PKC enhances Ca(2+)/CaM-dependent inactivation of the NMDA channel, most likely because of a phosphorylation-dependent regulation of interactions between receptor subunits, CaM, and other postsynaptic density proteins.

[An cephalomectric study on craniofacial structures of Uygur adults with normal occlusion in Xinjiang autonomous region]

OBJECTIVE

To study craniofacial structures of Uygur adults with normal occlusion and establish the standard cephalometric values to evaluate the craniofacial soft and hard tissue structures of normal Uygur adults.

METHODS

Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 93 Uygur adults with normal occlusion (43 men and 50 women) were evaluated with the same standard. Their age ranged from 18 to 25 years old, and they had normal and well-balanced faces without receiving any orthodontical treatment. The lateral cephalogram of each normal adult was traced digitized and measured by the same computer system, then the indexes of craniofacial structures were analyzed by multifactor cluster analysis. 18 typical items were chosen to analyze the characters of the craniofacial structures of Uygur adults with normal occlusion. At the same time, Bayers discriminant analysis was used to identify and evaluate the cluster results.

RESULTS

Uygur adults with normal occlusion were divided into three patterns according to the multifactor cluster analytic results: horizontal tendency pattern (40%), medial pattern (43%) and vertical tendency pattern (17%). When the horizontal tendency pattern was compared with the medial pattern, it showed that the height of S-Go increased (P < 0.05), while the height of ANS-Xi-Pm decreased (P < 0.05); The proportion of S-Go/N-Me increased (P < 0.01). The angle of Ar-Go-Me and Y axis decreased (P < 0.05), which meant that the mandible rotated in the counter-clockwise direction. SN-MP, PP-MP, OP-MP, MP-FH all decreased (P < 0.01), which meant that the SN plane, the PP plane, the occlusion plane and the MP plane all had the trend of hypodivergence. When the vertical tendency pattern was compared with the medial pattern, the height of Ar-Fo decreased (P < 0.01), while the height of ANS-Me increased (P < 0.01); The angle of Ar-Go-Me, Y axis, SN-MP, PP-MP, OP-MP and MP-FH all increased (P < 0.01). These results showed that the mandible rotated in the clockwise direction and the SN plane, the PP plane, the occlusion plane, and the MP plane all had the trend of hyperdivergence. At last, according to the different skeletal patterns, the normal cephalometric values of Uygur adults with normal occlusion were established.

CONCLUSION

Significantly craniofacial structure difference exist in the adults with normal occlusion. Therefore, it is necessary to establish the normal cephalometric values of Uygur adults with normal occlusion according to different skeletal patterns.

[Simultaneous intrusion and retraction of the anterior teeth using a three-piece base arch]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effects of the three-piece base arch on overbite correction of Class II malocclusion.

METHODS

20 patients with high angle, flared incisors were treated using a three-piece base arch appliance. The intrusion force of four upper incisors was adjusted to approximately 50 g. The line of force action was 2 mm distally to the resistant center(RC) and the retraction force was 20 g, the right and left posterior segments were joined by a palatal bar. Cephalograms were taken before treatment (T1) and six months after treatment (T2).

RESULTS

The upper molars moved mesially 0.60 +/- 0.35 mm and the distance of the vertical extrusion was 0.80 +/- 0.52 mm. The distances of the upper central incisor retraction and intrusion were -4.20 +/- 2.12 mm and 3.10 +/- 0.54 mm respectively. The RC of the central incisor retracted -4.12 +/- 1.96 mm and intruded 3.20 +/- 0.66 mm. The axial inclination of the upper incisor-palatal plane changed from 123.21 degrees +/- 4.26 degrees to 116.00 degrees +/- 3.96 degrees.

CONCLUSION

The three-piece segmented approach can effectively intrude and retract the upper anterior teeth for flared incisors and deep overbite.

Cyclic GMP-dependent feedback inhibition of AMPA receptors is independent of PKG

In central neurons, the second messenger cGMP is believed to induce long-term changes in efficacy at glutamatergic synapses through activation of protein kinase G (PKG). Stimulating nitric oxide synthase, activating soluble guanylyl cyclase or elevating concentrations of intracellular cGMP depressed excitatory synaptic transmission in CA1 hippocampal neurons. Unexpectedly, intracellular cGMP depressed responses of AMPA receptors and inhibited excitatory postsynaptic currents in hippocampal neurons independently of phosphorylation. Our findings demonstrate that cGMP's modulation of excitatory transmission may involve a coupling of AMPA channel activity to levels of cGMP.

[Establishment and application of a computerized radiography cephalometrics system]

We have developed a new-typed computerized radiography cephalometrics and prediction system. It includes cephalometrics, growth prediction, orthopedics/orthodontics prediction and profile prediction. In this study, 47 lateral cephalograms were randomly selected to process a reliability test. The results showed the two groups were in agreement on all of the 25 measurement index. The system is easier, quicker and less prone to error than traditional cephalometrics approach. It is convenient for orthodontists.

The general anesthetic propofol slows deactivation and desensitization of GABA(A) receptors

Propofol (2,6-di-isopropylphenol) has multiple actions on GABA(A) receptor function that act in concert to potentiate GABA-evoked currents. To understand how propofol influences inhibitory IPSCs, we examined the effects of propofol on responses to brief applications of saturating concentrations of GABA (1-30 mM). GABA was applied using a fast perfusion system to nucleated patches excised from hippocampal neurons. In this preparation, propofol (10 microM) had no detectable agonist effect but slowed the decay, increased the charge transfer (62%), and enhanced the peak amplitude (8%) of currents induced by brief pulses (3 msec) of GABA. Longer pulses (500 msec) of GABA induced responses that desensitized with fast (tau(f) = 1.5-4.5 msec) and slow (tau(s) = 1-3 sec) components and, after the removal of GABA, deactivated exponentially (tau(d) = 151 msec). Propofol prolonged this deactivation (tau(d) = 255 msec) and reduced the development of both fast and slow desensitization. Recovery from fast desensitization, assessed using pairs of brief pulses of GABA, paralleled the time course of deactivation, indicating that fast desensitization traps GABA on the receptor. With repetitive applications of pulses of GABA (0.33 Hz), the charge transfer per pulse declined exponentially (tau approximately 15 sec) to a steady-state value equal to approximately 40% of the initial response. Despite the increased charge transfer per pulse with propofol, the time course of the decline was unchanged. These experimental data were interpreted using computer simulations and a kinetic model that assumed fast and slow desensitization, as well as channel opening developed in parallel from a pre-open state. Our results suggest that propofol stabilizes the doubly liganded pre-open state without affecting the isomerization rate constants to and from the open state. Also, the rate constants for agonist dissociation and entry into the fast and slow desensitization states were reduced by propofol. The recovery rate constant from fast desensitization was slowed, whereas that from slow desensitization appeared to be unchanged. Taken together, the effects of propofol on GABA(A) receptors enhance channel opening, particularly under conditions that promote desensitization.