loreclezole and Teratocarcinoma

During CNS development, changes occur in expression of GABA(A) receptor subunit subtypes and GABA(A) receptor pharmacological and biophysical properties. We used reverse transcription PCR and whole-cell-recording techniques to determine whether GABA(A) receptor expression and function also changed during retinoic acid-induced differentiation of human Ntera 2 (NT2) teratocarcinoma cells into neuron-like cells (NT2-N cells). In undifferentiated NT2 cells only alpha5, beta3, gamma3, and pi subtype mRNAs were detected. NT2 GABA(A) receptor currents had a maximal amplitude of 52 pA and an EC(50) of 4.0 microM, were relatively insensitive to enhancement by zolpidem and diazepam, and were enhanced by loreclezole and inhibited by lanthanum, zinc, and furosemide. In contrast, in NT2-N cells after 13 weeks of retinoic acid treatment, all GABA(A) receptor subtype mRNAs were detected. Maximal peak whole-cell currents were approximately 50-fold larger than NT2 cell currents, and the GABA EC(50) was higher (39.7 microM). In 13 week NT2-N cells, diazepam, zolpidem, loreclezole, and lanthanum had only small effects on GABA(A) receptor currents, and the zinc IC(50) for current inhibition was significantly higher than that for NT2 cells. In a previous study, we showed that NT2-N cells after 5 weeks of retinoic acid treatment had moderate peak currents, GABA EC(50,) and zinc IC(50) but that currents were robustly enhanced by diazepam, zolpidem, and loreclezole. During differentiation of NT2 cells to NT2-N cells, GABA(A) receptors underwent changes in subunit expression and pharmacology that were similar to many of the developmental changes in GABA(A) receptors that occur in CNS neurons.

Topics: Anti-Anxiety Agents; Anticonvulsants; Cell Differentiation; Diazepam; Furosemide; Humans; Lanthanum; Neurons; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Pyridines; Receptors, GABA-A; Teratocarcinoma; Triazoles; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Zinc; Zolpidem

Human NT2 teratocarcinoma cells differentiate into neuron-like NT2-N cells when treated with retinoic acid. GABA evoked concentration-dependent whole-cell currents in NT2-N cells with an EC50 of 21.8 microM and a Hill slope of 1.2. GABAA receptor (GABAR) currents reversed at ECl- and did not display voltage-dependent rectification. GABAR single channels opened in bursts to a 23 pS main conductance level and a 19 pS subconductance level, with infrequent openings to a 27 pS conductance level. Kinetic properties of the main conductance level were similar to other native and recombinant GABAR channels. Diazepam and zolpidem enhanced GABAR currents with moderate affinity, whereas methyl-6, 7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate inhibited GABAR currents. Loreclezole enhanced GABAR currents with high affinity, but furosemide antagonized GABAR currents with low affinity. The neurosteroids alphaxalone and pregnenolone sulfate appropriately modulated GABAR currents. Zinc blocked GABAR currents with low affinity, but lanthanum did not significantly alter NT2-N GABAR currents. Reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) performed on RNA from NT2-N cells clearly detected transcripts encoding human alpha2, alpha3, alpha5, beta3, gamma3, and pi subtypes. The combined pharmacological and RT-PCR results are most consistent with a single or predominant GABAR isoform composed of an alpha2 and/or alpha3 subtype combined with the beta3 and gamma3 subtypes. The data do not rule out receptors containing combinations of alpha2 and/or alpha3 subtypes with the alpha5 subtype or receptors with both beta1 and beta3 subtypes. The presence or absence or the pi subunit in functionally expressed receptors could not be determined.

Topics: Anticonvulsants; Bicuculline; Carbolines; Convulsants; Diazepam; Diuretics; DNA Primers; Furosemide; GABA Modulators; GABA-A Receptor Agonists; GABA-A Receptor Antagonists; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Lanthanum; Neurons; Patch-Clamp Techniques; Pentobarbital; Phenobarbital; Picrotoxin; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Pregnanediones; Pregnenolone; Pyridines; Receptors, GABA-A; RNA, Messenger; Teratocarcinoma; Triazoles; Tumor Cells, Cultured; Zinc; Zolpidem