Pressure-sensitive and -insensitive coupling in gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) receptors.

RATIONALE: Previous behavioral and biochemical studies suggest that allosteric coupling processes initiated by benzodiazepines, barbiturates and neuroactive steroids can be sub-categorized on the basis of their sensitivities to antagonism by increased atmospheric pressure. However, biochemical evidence supporting this hypothesis was limited to single concentration studies in long sleep (LS) mice. OBJECTIVE: The present paper addresses these issues by extending biochemical investigation of pressure effects on allosteric modulators across a range of concentrations that allosterically enhance gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor function and alter behavior using two mouse genotypes. In addition, the effects of pressure on ligand binding were explored to further investigate the mechanism of pressure antagonism of allosteric modulation. METHODS: The effects of 12 times normal atmospheric pressure (ATA) of helium-oxygen gas (heliox) on allosteric modulation of GABA(A) receptor function and [3H]flunitrazepam binding was tested in LS and C57BL mouse brain membranes (microsacs) using chloride flux and high-affinity binding assays. RESULTS: In both genotypes, exposure to 12 ATA heliox antagonized the allosteric enhancement of GABA(A) receptor function by flunitrazepam (0.1-10 microM) and pentobarbital (0.1-50 microM) but did not affect allosteric modulation by 3alpha-hydroxy-5beta-pregnan-20-one (0.1-1 microM). Pressure did not affect benzodiazepine receptor affinity (Kd) or the number of benzodiazepine receptors (Bmax). THE RESULTS: (1) confirm that there are differences in sensitivity to pressure antagonism of allosteric coupling among GABA(A) allosteric modulators; (2) demonstrate that these differences are not concentration or genotype dependent; (3) add evidence that pressure antagonizes allosteric modulation by uncoupling the receptor and (4) support the hypothesis that allosteric modulation of receptor function can be sub-categorized on the basis of sensitivity to pressure antagonism.

Influence of the estrus cycle on the discrimination of apparent neuroactive steroid site subtypes on the gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptor complex in the rat.

Estrus cycle-related changes in gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor complex (GRC) sensitivity to modulation by reduced progesterone metabolites is suggestive of a possible mechanism for maintaining brain homeostasis in the presence of fluctuating levels of these neuroactive metabolites. In addition, certain endogenously occurring pregnanediols are selective for apparent neuroactive steroid site subtypes discriminated by the progesterone metabolite 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 beta-pregnan-20-one (3 alpha,5 beta-P) on the GRC. Thus, it was of interest to evaluate the influence of gender and the estrus cycle on the ability of 3 alpha,5 beta-P and its 20-reduced analog 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha,20 beta-diol to differentiate neuroactive steroid site subtypes. Neuroactive steroid modulation of [35S]t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([35S]TBPS) binding to the GRC in rats during estrus, diestrus and after ovariectomy (OVX) was measured in washed cortical P2 homogenates in the presence or absence of exogenous GABA. During diestrus, the inability of 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha,20 beta-diol to allosterically modulate [35S]TBPS binding in the absence of GABA coincides with the inability of 3 alpha,5 beta-P to modulate [35S]TBPS binding with high potency. In contrast, the addition of GABA to the assay produced high potency inhibition of [35S]TBPS binding by each steroid. Remarkably, although findings in diestrus and OVX homogenates were no different from those observed in males, the proportions and IC50 values of the two sites discriminated by 3 alpha,5 beta-P in [35S]TBPS binding assays during the estrus phase were significantly different from male, OVX and diestrus rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Benzodiazepines and peptides stimulate pregnenolone synthesis in brain mitochondria.

Mitochondria isolated from rat brain were found to cleave cholesterol to produce pregnenolone, the precursor for hormonal steroids, at a mean rate of 21.0 pmol pregnenolone.mg protein-1.min-1. This rate-limiting step in steroidogenesis was significantly stimulated by PK 11195 (1-(2-chlorophenyl)-N-methyl-(1-methylpropyl)-3-isoquinoline carboxamide) and Ro5 4864 (4'-chlorodiazepam), ligands which bind to peripheral benzodiazepine receptors with high affinity. Low-affinity ligands for the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor such as Ro15 1788 (ethyl-8-fluoro-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo[1,5 alpha][1,4] benzo-3-carboxylate) and clonazepam had no significant effect on the rate of pregnenolone synthesis. Furthermore, the rank order of potency of these compounds as inhibitors of [3H]Ro5 4864 binding was identical to the rank order for steroid production. Since the 86-amino acid peptide diazepam binding inhibitor is also thought to bind to the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor, four fragments of this peptide, a random sequence and steroidogenesis activator peptide were also evaluated for their ability to interact with peripheral benzodiazepine receptors and to stimulate steroidogenesis in rat brain mitochondria. Steroidogenesis activator peptide and two fragments of diazepam binding inhibitor significantly stimulated pregnenolone biosynthesis. In contrast to the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands, no correlation between peptide potency in displacing [3H]Ro5 4864 binding and steroidogenesis was observed.

Selective actions of certain neuroactive pregnanediols at the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor complex in rat brain.

Certain endogenous pregnanediols (5 alpha-pregnan-3 alpha,20 alpha-diol and 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha,20 beta-diol) were observed to have limited efficacy as allosteric modulators of t-[35S]butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([35S]TBPS) and [3H]flunitrazepam binding to sites on the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor complex in rat brain. In contrast, 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one (3 alpha,5 alpha-P) and 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 beta-pregnan-20-one (3 alpha,5 beta-P) have full efficacy. Moreover, 3 alpha,5 beta-P but not 3 alpha,5 alpha-P recognizes high (nanomolar) and low (micromolar) affinity neuroactive steroid sites in these allosteric modulatory assays. The concentration-response curve for 3 alpha,5 alpha-P modulation of [35S]TBPS binding was shifted rightward in the presence of these pregnanediols and GABA. The maximum shift produced by these pregnanediols never exceeded the concentration-response curve obtained with 3 alpha,5 alpha-P alone in the absence of GABA. Additionally, neither 5 alpha-pregnan-3 alpha,20 alpha-diol nor 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha,20 beta-diol had any effect on the site recognized by 3 alpha,5 alpha-P in the absence of GABA. The difference in the affinities of the two apparent sites (29 nM versus 152 nM in the presence and absence of GABA, respectively) recognized by 3 alpha,5 alpha-P is only approximately 5-fold. In contrast, the difference between the high (30 nM) and low (7 microM) affinity sites discriminated by 3 alpha,5 beta-P is > 200-fold. Thus, the selective interaction between the high affinity site recognized by 3 alpha,5 beta-P and these pregnanediols can be clearly observed. A saturating concentration of 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha,20 beta-diol selectively eliminated the high affinity component recognized by 3 alpha,5 beta-P, whereas 5 alpha-pregnan-3 alpha,20 alpha-diol did not completely abolish the high affinity site. 5 alpha-Pregnan-3 alpha,20 alpha-diol recognized only a portion of the high affinity sites discriminated by 3 alpha,5 beta-P, relative to 5 beta-pregnan-3 alpha,20 beta-diol, whereas the two pregnanediols recognized a similar population of sites mediating 3 alpha,5 alpha-P inhibition of [35S]TBPS binding. Collectively, these studies provide evidence that the limited efficacy of certain pregnanediols as allosteric modulators of [35S]TBPS binding may be explained in part by selectivity for the high affinity site recognized by 3 alpha,5 beta-P.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

A putative receptor for neurosteroids on the GABAA receptor complex: the pharmacological properties and therapeutic potential of epalons.

A critical mass of evidence now supports the existence of a novel class of neuroactive steroids. These steroids are devoid of any known steroid hormone activity and have high specificity for the gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptor complex (GRC), which is a ligand-gated chloride channel that mediates the inhibitory action of the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The action of these steroids at the GRC is to allosterically potentiate the effect of GABA on chloride channel conductance through a unique site on the GRC. These neuroactive steroids have been termed the epalons, a shortened form of epiallopregnanolone, an endogenous metabolite of progesterone with potent actions at the GRC. Putative epalon receptors may be unique sites on the GRC that mediate the effects of epalons on GABA-gated channel function. The pharmacological profile of the epalons is consistent with those of other positive modulators of GABA action (e.g., the clinically useful benzodiazepines (BZs) and barbiturates). These neuroactive steroids have anxiolytic, anticonvulsant, and sedative-hypnotic properties. Based upon some of the unique characteristics of the epalons relative to barbiturates and the BZs, it is plausible that the epalons can be developed into a novel class of therapeutic agents for the treatment of anxiety, epilepsy, and insomnia.

The neuroactive steroid 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 beta-pregnan-20-one is a two-component modulator of ligand binding to the GABAA receptor.

Neuroactive steroids allosterically inhibit [35S]t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([35S]TBPS) and enhance [3H]flunitrazepam binding to the GABAA receptor complex. In the presence of 5 microM GABA, 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 beta-pregnan-20-one (3 alpha, 5 beta-P) inhibits [35S]TBPS binding with high- (IC50 21-32 nM) and low- (IC50 24-63 microM) affinity components in bovine cortical, cerebellar, and hippocampal membranes. The percentage of high-affinity sites ranges from 53% in cortex to 65% in cerebellum and hippocampus. However, 3 alpha, 5 beta-P is a single-site inhibitor in thalamus (IC50 43 nM). In the absence of GABA, similar affinities for the high- and low-affinity components were detected, although the percentages of high-affinity sites were reduced. Similarly, 3 alpha, 5 beta-P enhances [3H]flunitrazepam binding with high- (EC50 44-58 nM) and low- (EC50 2-13 microM) affinity components which account for 71-77% and 23-29% of the sites, respectively, in cortex, cerebellum and hippocampus. 3 alpha, 5 beta-P is a single-site enhancer in thalamus (EC50 80 nM). In contrast to 3 alpha,5 beta-P, 3 alpha-hydroxy-5 alpha-pregnan-20-one (3 alpha,5 alpha-P) is a single site modulator of [35S]TBPS and [3H]flunitrazepam binding in all regions examined. These data provide pharmacological evidence consistent with receptor heterogeneity for neuroactive steroids.