GABAB receptors: has adenylate cyclase inhibition any functional relevance?

An investigation into the mechanisms of inhibition of calcium channel currents in cultured sensory neurones of the rat by guanine nucleotide analogues and (-)-baclofen

1. The mechanism of inhibition of calcium channel currents by the guanine nucleotide analogue guanosine 5'-O-3 thiotriphosphate (GTP-gamma-S) and by the GABAB agonist (-)-baclofen has been studied in cultured dorsal root ganglion neurones of the rat. The inhibition by GTP-gamma-S is particularly characterized by an abolition of the transient component of calcium channel currents carried either by Ba2+ (IBa) or by Ca2+ (ICa). 2. The effect of agents increasing intracellular cyclic AMP levels has been examined. Neither internal cyclic AMP nor forskolin prevented the inhibition of IBa by baclofen. Neither forskolin nor pretreatment of cells with cholera toxin prevented the inhibition of the transient component of IBa by GTP-gamma-S. However, both these treatments increased the amplitude of the sustained IBa in the presence of GTP-gamma-S. The ATP analogue adenosine imido-diphosphate which inhibits many ATP requiring enzymes did not prevent the effect of GTP-gamma-S although it reduced the amplitude of IBa. 3. Baclofen (100 microM) produced a 22 +/- 2% increase in inositol phosphate production in 30 s, whereas the increase produced by bradykinin (1 microM) was 70 +/- 14%. However, unlike baclofen, bradykinin did not inhibit IBa or ICa in these cells. 4. The effect of protein kinase C inhibitors was examined. Polymixin B (20 microM in patch pipette) had no effect on the inhibition of IBa by baclofen or GTP-gamma-S. A higher concentration (100 microM) alone inhibited IBa and no further inhibition by baclofen was observed. Neither H7 (50 microM) nor staurosporine (100 nM), applied extracellularly, prevented the response to GTP-gamma-S. 5. The protein kinase C activator di-octanoyl glycerol (20 microM) did not inhibit IBa. Arachidonic acid (100 microM) also produced no inhibition of IBa. 6. In conclusion we have obtained no evidence that a second messenger system mediates the inhibition of calcium channel currents by GTP-gamma-S or baclofen in dorsal root ganglion neurones. These results support the hypothesis that GABAB receptors are directly coupled to calcium channels by G proteins.

Endogenous anticonvulsant substances

Epileptic seizures will normally arrest abruptly and spontaneously, and the brain will remain refractory to further seizures for some time thereafter. This paper reviews the possible mechanisms underlying this seizure arrest and refractoriness. The data suggests that neuronal fatigue is not involved in either of these processes, whereas the role of ions and excitatory systems are unclear. Rather, seizure arrest and refractoriness may come about by the seizure-induced release and/or activity of multiple endogenous anticonvulsant substances. The spontaneous arrest of the seizure may involve the purine adenosine, in addition to other unknown mechanisms. Seizure refractoriness involves multiple systems, the most important of which, on the available evidence, are prostaglandins and opioid peptides and possibly benzodiazepine systems, although other neuropeptides and the purines may also be involved. The implications of these conclusions to anti-epileptic drug development and status epilepticus are discussed.