The effects of inhibitors of GABAergic transmission and stress on brain and plasma allopregnanolone concentrations

Abstract

1. This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between a reduction in brain GABA_A receptor function and the cerebro-cortical content of 3α-hydroxy-5α-pregnan-20 one (allopregnanolone, AP), a potent endogenous positive modulator of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) action at GABA_A receptors, with anticonflict and anticonvulsant effects in rodents.

2. An acute depletion of the cerebral content of GABA or an attenuation of GABA_A receptor-mediated transmission by systemic injections of isoniazid (375 mg kg⁻¹, s.c.) or FG 7142 (15 mg kg⁻¹, i.p.) induced a transient increase in the cerebro-cortical and plasma concentrations of AP in handling-habituated (not stressed) rats.

3. Two stress paradigms, handling in naive rats and mild foot shock in handling-habituated rats, that reduce central GABAergic tone mimicked the effects of isoniazid and FG 7142 on cortical AP content; foot shock in handling-habituated rats, but not handling in naive animals, also increased plasma AP. Isoniazid, FG 7142, and foot shock also each increased the concentrations of the AP precursors, pregnenolone and progesterone, in both brain and plasma of handling-habituated rats, whereas handling in naive rats increased the concentrations of these steroids only in brain.

4. Pretreatment of handling-habituated rats with the anxiolytic β-carboline derivative abecarnil, a positive allosteric modulator of GABA_A receptors, which per se failed to affect the AP concentration in brain or plasma, prevented the increase in brain and plasma AP induced by foot shock or isoniazid.

5. In adrenalectomized and castrated rats foot shock or isoniazid failed to increase AP both in brain cortex and plasma.

6. These observations indicate that inhibition of GABAergic transmission, induced by foot shock or pharmacological manipulations, results in an increase in the concentrations of AP in brain and plasma, possibly via a modulation of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis.

7. Given that AP enhances GABA_A receptor function with high efficacy and potency, an increase in brain AP concentration may be important in the fine tuning of the GABA-mediated inhibitory transmission in the central nervous system.

Full Text

The Full Text of this article is available as a PDF (343.5 KB).