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In electrically stimulated rat neocortical brain slices preloaded with [3H]gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) or [3H]glutamic acid, the pharmacological actions of 1-(aminomethyl)-cyclohexaneacetic acid (gabapentin, Gp) were compared with the GABAB receptor agonists baclofen (Bac) and (3-amino-2-(S)-hydroxypropyl)-methylphosphinic acid (CGP 44532). Gabapentin, baclofen and CGP 44532 all reduced the electrically stimulated release of [3H]glutamic acid (IC50=20 microM, 0.8 microM and 2 microM, respectively). These effects were sensitive to the GABAB receptor antagonists (+)-(S)-5,5 dimethylmorpholinyl-2-acetic acid (Sch 50911) or N-3-[[1-(S)-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethyl]amino]-2-(S)-hydroxypropyl-P-(cyclo-hexylmethyl)-phosphinic acid (CGP 54626). By contrast, gabapentin was without effect on the release of [3H]GABA, whilst baclofen (IC50=8 microM) and CGP 44532 (IC50=1 microM) inhibited [3H]GABA release. It is concluded that gabapentin selectively activates presynaptic GABAB heteroreceptors, but not GABAB autoreceptors, and may be a useful ligand to discriminate between presynaptic GABAB receptor subtypes.

In rat neocortical preparations maintained in Mg(2+)-free Krebs medium, baclofen depressed the frequency of spontaneous discharges in a concentration-dependent manner (EC(50) = 6 microM), sensitive to (3-aminopropyl)ethylphosphinic acid (CGP 36216) (100, 300 and 500 microM) (pA(2) = 3.9 +/- 0.1). By contrast, CGP 36216, up to 1 mM, was ineffective in antagonising baclofen-induced hyperpolarisations, mediated through gamma-aminobutyric acid(B) (GABA(B)) postsynaptic receptors. In electrically stimulated brain slices preloaded with [3H]GABA, CGP 36216 increased [3H]GABA release (IC(50) = 43 microM), which was reversed by baclofen (20 microM). While CGP 36216 is ineffective at GABA(B) postsynaptic receptors, it is appreciably more active at presynaptic receptors.

In neocortical slices maintained in Mg(2+)-free Krebs medium, the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA(B)) receptor agonists baclofen, (3-amino-2(S)-hydroxypropyl)methylphosphinic acid (CGP 44532), and its (R)-enantiomer CGP 44533 depressed the frequency of spontaneous discharges in a concentration-dependent manner (EC(50)=10, 6.5, and 50 microM, respectively). These effects were reversibly antagonised by the GABA(B) receptor antagonist (+)-(S)-5,5 dimethylmorpholinyl-2-acetic acid (Sch 50911) (3, 10, and 30 microM) (average pA(2) value=6.0+/-0.2). In neocortical wedges, baclofen, CGP 44532 and CGP 44533 elicited concentration-dependent hyperpolarisations (the EC(50)s were 14, 7.5 and 16 microM, respectively) sensitive to Sch 50911 (1, 5, 10 microM) (average pA(2) value=6.0+/-0.1), whilst they also depressed ileal electrically elicited cholinergic twitch contractions (EC(50)=11, 7, and 50 microM) that were antagonised by Sch 50911 (average pA(2) value=6.0+/-0.1). In electrically stimulated brain slices preloaded with [3H]GABA, baclofen, CGP 44532 and CGP 44533 decreased [3H]GABA release (IC(50)=5, 0.45, and 10 microM); this effect was reversed by Sch 50911 (50 microM). It is concluded that CGP 44532 is a far more potent agonist at GABA(B) autoreceptors than at central or peripheral heteroreceptors.

Cholinergic twitch responses in the guinea-pig isolated ileum, and spontaneous discharges in rat neocortical slices, were depressed by the GABA(B) receptor agonist baclofen. These actions were reversibly antagonised by the sulphonamide derivatives (R,S)-2-hydroxy-3-phthalimidopropanesulphonamide (HPIPS), 3-amino-N-benzoylpropanesulphonamide (ABPS) and 3-phthalimidopropanesulphonamide (PIPS) which produced rightwards shifts of the baclofen concentration-response curves, with pA2 values ranging between 4.1 and 4.3 in both preparations. From these results, HPIPS, ABPS and PIPS constitute a novel class of antagonists at GABA(B) hetero-receptors.

The effects of five phosphonic derivatives of GABA on the release of [3H]-GABA from rat neocortical slices, preloaded with [3H]-GABA, were investigated. Phaclofen and 4-aminobutylphosphonic acid (4-ABPA) increased the overflow of [3H] evoked by electrical stimulation (2 Hz) in a concentration-dependent manner, with similar potencies (phaclofen EC50=0.3 mmol/l, 4-ABPA EC50=0.4 mmol/l). At 3 mmol/l, phaclofen increased the release of [3H]-GABA by 82.6+/-8.6%, and 4-ABPA increased the release by 81.3+/-9.0%. 2-Amino-ethylphosphonic acid (2-AEPA) increased the overflow of [3H] by 46.8+/-10.9% at the highest concentration tested (3 mmol/l). In contrast, the lower phosphonic homologue 3-aminopropylphosphonic acid (3-APPA), and 2-amino-2-(p-chlorophenyl)-ethylphosphonic acid (2-CPEPA), a baclofen analogue, did not modify the stimulated overflow. These results suggest that phaclofen, 4-ABPA and 2-AEPA are antagonists at GABA(B) autoreceptors, the latter being the weakest antagonist, whilst neither 3-APPA nor 2-CPEPA are active at these receptors. Since phaclofen, 4-ABPA and 2-CPEPA are antagonists and 3-APPA a partial agonist/antagonist on GABA(B) heteroreceptors, the lack of effect of 3-APPA and 2-CPEPA on [3H]-GABA release in this study suggests that GABA(B) autoreceptors may be pharmacologically distinct from the heteroreceptors.

In the guinea-pig isolated ileum, both baclofen (5-100 microM) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA; 5-100 microM) induced a bicuculline-insensitive depression of cholinergic twitch contractions which was reversibly and competitively antagonised by 3-amino-1-nitropropane (50-250 microM). 3-Amino-1-nitropropane (pA2 = 5.0 +/- 0.1) was twice as potent as 2-hydroxysaclofen (pA2 = 4.5 +/- 0.1), but was equipotent with 3-aminopropyl(P-diethoxymethyl)phosphinic acid (CGP 35348) (pA2 = 4.9 +/- 0.2), and did not show any partial agonist activity at these peripheral GABAA or GABAB receptor sites. In rat neocortical slices, 3-amino-1-nitropropane did not activate GABAB receptor sites or affect baclofen-induced suppression of spontaneous discharges. In the cat spinal cord, however, under in vivo conditions, the corresponding nitro analog of baclofen 3-amino-2-(4-chloro)-nitropropane was an agonist at GABAB receptor sites, although more than 60 times weaker than baclofen in depressing monosynaptic excitatory field potentials, whereas 3-amino-1-nitropropane was an extremely weak agonist at bicuculline-sensitive GABAA sites. The differing actions of 3-amino-1-nitropropane at peripheral and central GABAB receptor sites suggest heterogeneity among these receptors.

R-(-)-beta-phenyl-GABA has been compared at GABAB receptors using cortical and ileal preparations. R-(-)-beta-phenyl-GABA (EC50 = 25 microM) was a less potent full agonist than R,S-(+/-)-baclofen (EC50 = 2.5 microM), in depressing CA1 population spikes of rat hippocampal slices, and 5 times less potent in attenuating the spontaneous discharges of rat neocortex. However, R-(-)-beta-phenyl-GABA (100-400 microM) was only a weak partial agonist in the ileum. All these actions were sensitive to CGP 35348 (3-aminopropyl-(P-diethoxymethyl)-phosphinic acid) and therefore mediated by GABAB receptors.

In the guinea-pig isolated ileum, beta-(2-thienyl)-gamma-aminobutyric acid (BTG; 100-500 microM) reversibly and competitively (pA2 = 4.3 +/- 0.1) antagonised the baclofen-induced (5-100 microM) depression of cholinergic twitch contractions, but not that to adenosine or morphine. By contrast, in rat neocortical slice preparations, BTG (100-500 microM) acted as an agonist, abolishing the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous discharges, sensitive to 2-hydroxysaclofen (100-500 microM). BTG exhibits differential actions at GABAB receptors in brain and periphery.

In the guinea-pig isolated ileum, cortisone at 0.001-10 nM induced a non-competitive, dose-dependent antagonism of GABAA-receptor-mediated contractile responses to applied GABA, depressing the maximum contractile response to GABA (100 microM), without affecting contractile responses to acetylcholine or cholinergic twitch contractions. At higher concentrations (greater than 10 nM), cortisone depressed contractile responses to acetylcholine (10-100 nM) and cholinergic twitch responses to transmural stimulation. Cortisone is thus the most potent non-competitive antagonist at GABAA-receptor complexes in the guinea-pig ileum. From molecular modelling, sterically there appeared little difference between cortisone and cortisol, the latter being an enhancer of GABAA-receptor-mediated action in the ileum. However, there were significant differences in electrostatic potentials between the two steroids, due to the different levels of oxidation at C11 which may contribute to such opposing actions.

Rat neocortical slices maintained in Mg2(+)-free Krebs medium developed spontaneous paroxysmal discharges which were attenuated or suppressed by the gamma-aminobutyric acid-B (GABAB) receptor agonist baclofen, occasionally accompanied by a slight hyperpolarisation, and antagonised by the specific GABAB-receptor antagonist, 2-OH-saclofen. Over the same dose range, the GABA-analogue 3-amino-propylphosphinic acid (3-APA) caused a marked, prompt hyperpolarisation with little or no effect on the frequency of the discharges, although their amplitude was attenuated. In the presence of 2-OH-saclofen, 3-APA still induced a hyperpolarisation but the amplitude of the discharges was no longer affected. This marked difference in action between baclofen and 3-APA in the rat neocortical slices suggests there may be a heterogeneity of GABAB-receptors.

1. The phosphono-analogues of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), 4-amino-butylphosphonic acid (4-ABPA), 3-amino-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-propylphosphonic acid (phaclofen) and 3-amino-2-cyclohexylpropyl-phosphonic acid, each antagonized the GABA- and baclofen-induced GABAB-receptor-mediated depression of twitch responses to transmural stimulation in the guinea-pig isolated ileum, in a concentration-dependent, reversible and surmountable manner (apparent pA2 = 4.0 +/- 0.1, 4 +/- 0.2 and 3.7 +/- 0.2 respectively, compared with 3.9 +/- 0.1 for delta-aminovaleric acid). No such activity was found in a variety of related analogues. 2. By contrast, 3-amino-propylphosphonic acid (3-APPA) behaved as a partial agonist, itself partly depressing ileal twitch contractions in a manner sensitive to 4-ABPA and phaclofen, as well as antagonizing the depression of the ileal twitch by GABA and baclofen (apparent pA2 = 4.0 +/- 0.2). 3. Both 4-ABPA and phaclofen also antagonized the baclofen-induced depression of the twitch in the guinea-pig isolated vas deferens (apparent pA2 = 4.0 +/- 0.1 for each), whilst 3-APPA behaved as a partial agonist, slightly depressing the vas twitch, and antagonised the baclofen-induced depression of the twitch (apparent pA2 = 3.9 +/- 0.1). 4. None of these phosphono-analogues exhibited any action at ileal GABAA-receptors, nor influenced the ileal twitch depression with morphine, adenosine or noradrenaline, suggesting their selectivity as antagonists at GABAB-receptors.

1--Following preloading with [3H]-gamma-aminobutyric acid ([3H]-GABA), in the presence of beta-alanine to inhibit glial uptake of the label, electrical stimulation caused a frequency-dependent release of tritium as [3H]-GABA from isolated longitudinal-muscle myenteric-plexus preparations of the guinea-pig ileum and colon. 2--The electrically evoked efflux of [3H]-GABA was Ca2+-dependent, virtually abolished by preventing neuronal conduction with tetrodotoxin, and markedly reduced by preloading with [3H]-GABA in the presence of nipecotic acid which is an inhibitor of high affinity GABA-uptake. Veratridine and KCl were less effective than electrical stimulation in evoking [3H]-GABA release. 3--It is concluded that the electrically stimulated efflux of [3H]-GABA originated from GABAergic neurones of the myenteric plexus which had taken up the label. 4--These results provide further evidence to support the suggestion that GABA is a transmitter in the mammalian enteric nervous system.

Segments of the isolated proximal ileum of the guinea-pig were set up in the organ bath to record longitudinal muscle contractions. Both gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and 5-hydroxytryptamine induced neurally mediated cholinergic contractile responses; desensitization to 5-HT did not consistently depress contractile responses to GABA, whilst quipazine antagonized the neuronal responses induced by 5-HT without affecting responses to GABA. It is thus concluded that 5-HT does not mediate GABA-induced responses in the ileum.

1. Alfaxalone (1-100 nM) potentiated gamma-aminobutyric acidA (GABAA)-receptor-mediated contractile responses in the guinea-pig isolated ileum, with a leftward shift of the GABA concentration-response curve, and a significant potentiation of the GABA-induced contractions over the lower concentration-range for GABA (3-30 microM). Alfadalone on the other hand, did not affect contractile responses to GABA. 2. Picrotoxinin (10 microM) induced a non-parallel rightward shift of the GABA concentration-response curve, with a 50% depression of the maximum response to GABA. Alfaxalone (100 nM) potentiated the responses to GABA in the presence of picrotoxinin (10 microM) over the GABA concentration-range of 10-100 microM, causing a leftward shift of the concentration-response curve, but without affecting the depression of the maximum response by picrotoxinin. 3. Bicuculline methochloride (10 microM) caused a parallel rightward shift of the GABA concentration-response-curve; the ratio of this shift was unchanged in the presence of alfaxalone (100 microM), although the latter itself displaced the curve leftwards. 4. Alfaxalone (1-100 mM) also induced a similar potentiation of contractile responses to 3-amino-1-propanesulphonic acid (3-APS), a GABA agonist not subject to uptake. Such concentrations of alfaxalone were ineffective against contractile responses to exogenous acetylcholine. 5. Higher concentrations of alfaxalone (1 microM and above), however, elicited a GABA-like ileal contraction, sensitive to both picrotoxinin (10 microM) and bicuculline (10 microM). 6. In conclusion, alfaxalone potentiated GABAA-receptor-mediated contractile responses in the guinea-pig isolated ileum by acting at a modulatory site on GABAA-receptor-chloride-ionophore complexes of GABA-sensitive myenteric neurones, whilst high concentrations of alfaxalone exhibited a GABA-mimetic action at GABAA-receptors in the ileum. It is suggested that more than one site may exist where steroids interact with the GABAA-receptor-ionophore complexes.

In isolated segments of the guinea-pig ileum, there was: (a) an early, short-lived (less than 20 s) depression by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) of contractile responses to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), acetylcholine(ACh), or nicotine, also seen with 3-amino-1-propanesulphonic acid (3APS) or muscimol in place of GABA, and sensitive to bicuculline, picrotoxinin or piretanide, and (b) a delayed, longer-lasting (30 s-1 min) depression of responses to 5-HT and nicotine, but not exogenously applied ACh, also seen with baclofen and only antagonised by delta-aminovaleric acid (DAVA). At 25 degrees C, all these effects were still observed but slowed, whilst at 37 degrees C after cold storage (6 degrees C) overnight, the early, short-lived depression was reduced or eliminated, yet the delayed depression was enhanced. It is concluded that the early, short-lived depression is mediated through GABAA-receptor sites, and the delayed, longer-lasting depression through GABAB-receptor sites on neurones of the myenteric plexus; effects consistent with GABA being a neurotransmitter in the enteric nervous system.

In preloaded, isolated segments of duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon, ethylenediamine (EDA) caused a 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA)-sensitive release of [3H]GABA. Both EDA and GABA caused a contraction and a delayed 'after-relaxation' in the ileum, but only a delta-aminovaleric acid (DAVA)-sensitive relaxation in other intestinal segments; these actions of EDA were reduced by 3-MPA and therefore due to release of endogenous GABA. Baclofen induced a DAVA-sensitive relaxation in all tissues. Evidently, GABA modulates cholinergic excitation of the smooth muscle at all levels of the intestine.

Localization of [3H]GABA in the guinea-pig myenteric plexus has been studied using light microscopic autoradiography. In the presence of beta-alanine, 10(-3) M, an inhibitor of glial cell high affinity GABA transport, [3H]GABA was transported by a high affinity uptake system into neuronal elements of the plexus. Scattered neurones accumulating [3H]GABA showed localization of silver grains over the soma and axonal processes. In addition a large population of uptake sites for [3H]GABA was found within the secondary and tertiary meshworks of the plexus so that dense accumulations of silver grains were observed localized over distinct 'tracts' within all three meshworks of the plexus. These results are considered to provide strong evidence for GABAergic neurons in the enteric nervous system.

In the isolated ileum of the guinea pig, neurally mediated rhythmic longitudinal mechanical activity was induced by avermectin, a macrolide anthelmintic that releases gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and modulates the GABAA-receptor-ionophore complex. This avermectin-induced activity was dependent on GABA, being reduced or abolished by bicuculline, a GABAA-receptor antagonist, and by 3-mercaptopropionic acid which prevents neural GABA release. These results provide additional direct evidence that GABA is a functional neurotransmitter in the myenteric plexus of the guinea pig intestine, evidently involved in the regulation of intestinal motility.

High affinity uptake, and the distribution of 3H-radiolabelled gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA), cis-3-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid, beta-alanine, proline, and leucine have been examined autoradiographically in laminar preparations of the myenteric plexus from the guinea-pig intestine. Following labelling with [3H]proline and [3H]leucine, which are incorporated into neurons, silver grains were concentrated over recognisable perikarya in the ganglia and meshworks of the plexus, whilst [3H]GABA labelled a smaller proportion of neurons and their processes. Specificity of labelling in the sites of [3H]GABA-uptake was established using combinations of labelled and unlabelled GABA, beta-alanine, and cis-3-aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid, substrates for glial or neuronal high affinity GABA uptake systems. Only myenteric neurons and their processes were labelled significantly by [3H]GABA and its analogue cis-3-[3H]aminocyclohexanecarboxylic acid. Using autoradiographs of laminar preparations and paraffin sections, [3H]GABA labelling was found over nerve fibre bundles that could be traced from their ganglionic origins through the interconnecting meshworks of the myenteric plexus into the innervation of the deep muscular plexus of the circular muscle layer where GABA is evidently concerned with prejunctional modulation of transmitter release. The extensive but selective distribution of [3H]GABA high affinity uptake sites in neural elements of the guinea-pig myenteric plexus is consistent with GABA being an enteric neurotransmitter.

In the guinea-pig isolated ileum, both gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and baclofen induced a dose-dependent depression of cholinergic twitch contractions to transmural stimulation, sensitive to delta-aminovaleric acid (DAVA) and phosphonobaclofen (phaclofen). beta-Phenyl-GABA (BPG) antagonised this depressant action of baclofen and GABA, whilst itself weakly depressing ileal twitch contractions, an effect insensitive to DAVA or phaclofen, and thus unrelated to any GABAB-receptor-mediated effects. These results suggest that the baclofen receptors in the ileum that are antagonised by BPG differ from either of baclofen receptors in the spinal cord, where the presynaptic receptors are blocked by phaclofen and the postsynaptic receptors are insensitive to phaclofen, with BPG having baclofen-like actions at both sites. Interaction of BPG and baclofen with different receptor populations may explain the differing therapeutic actions of these compounds.

Both baclofen and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) induced a dose-dependent depression of cholinergic twitch contractions in the transmurally stimulated guinea-pig isolated ileum. Over a range of 0.6-2.4 mM Ca2+, the degree of depression was inversely related to the Ca2+ concentration, with an increased sensitivity and sinistral shift of the dose-response curve at lower Ca2+ concentrations. Partial occupation of Ca2+ channels by Ruthenium Red (0.1 microM) also potentiated the depressive responses to baclofen and GABA. It is concluded that these agonists, acting through GABAB receptors, limit the availability of Ca2+ required for neurotransmitter release in myenteric motor nerves.

Ethylenediamine (EDA) released [3H]-gamma-aminobutyric acid ([3H]-GABA) in a dose-dependent manner from the isolated preloaded ileum of the guinea-pig maintained in Krebs-bicarbonate solution (pH 7.4, 37 degrees C), in the presence of beta-alanine and amino-oxyacetic acid (AOAA) to prevent GABA uptake into glial cells and catabolism. This release was reversibly prevented by 3-mercaptopropionic acid (3-MPA), also in a dose-dependent manner. In the isolated ileal preparations of the guinea-pig maintained in Krebs-bicarbonate solution, EDA induced a dose-dependent transient, cholinergic contractile response (GABAA-receptor-mediated effect), followed by an 'after-relaxation' (GABAB-receptor-mediated effect). EDA also induced a transient contraction superimposed on repetitive twitch responses to electrical transmural stimulation of the cholinergic neurones, followed by a depression of the twitch contractions. This GABAA-receptor-mediated contraction was antagonized by bicuculline methochloride and picrotoxinin, whilst the GABAB-receptor-mediated 'after-relaxation', and depression of cholinergic twitch contractions, was susceptible to antagonism by delta-aminovaleric acid. The pA2 value for bicuculline methochloride antagonism of EDA was estimated to be 5.8, identical with that for GABA. 3-Mercaptopropionic acid also prevented these pharmacological actions induced by EDA without affecting responses to GABA, 3-aminopropranesulphonic acid, muscimol, baclofen or the twitch responses to transmural stimulation. It is concluded that EDA releases both [3H]-GABA and endogenous GABA in the guinea-pig ileum, thus providing further evidence that GABA is a transmitter in the enteric nervous system.

Saclofen (the direct sulphonic analogue of baclofen) is a competitive antagonist of baclofen at GABAB receptors in guinea pig ileum and rat cortical slices (estimated pA2 = 5.3), at least twice as potent as 2-hydroxy-saclofen (pA2 = 5). A series of related sulphonic analogues also antagonised baclofen in the guinea pig ileum, including 2-hydroxy-saclofen amide (pA2 = 3.3), 3-amino-2-hydroxy-2-phenyl-propylsulphonic acid (pA2 = 3.5), 3-amino-2-(benzo-(b)-furan-2-yl)-propylsulphonic acid (pA2 = 4.3), and 3-amino-2-(4-chlorophenyl)-prop-1-enesulphonic acid (pA2 = 2.5-3), but none were more active than saclofen which is the most potent specific GABAB antagonist yet found.

Rhythmic neurally mediated spontaneous relaxations of the longitudinal muscle in the isolated ileum of the guinea pig are modified by GABA antagonism. Bicuculline methochloride, a GABAA-receptor antagonist, and picrotoxinin, a Cl--ionophore blocker, as well as GABA desensitization reduced or most often abolished these naturally occurring periodic spontaneous relaxations, indicating a physiological involvement of GABA in the control of intestinal motility. The possible mechanism whereby GABA may induce such relaxations is discussed in relation to GABA actions in the enteric nervous system where GABA is a neurotransmitter.

Rhythmic neurally mediated spontaneous contractions of the longitudinal muscle in the isolated ileum of the guinea pig, sensitive to tetrodotoxin and atropine, were depressed and most often abolished by the GABAA receptor antagonists, bicuculline methiodide, RU 5135, and picrotoxin, a Cl- -ionophore blocker, as well as by GABA desensitization. 3-Mercaptopropionic acid, known to prevent GABA release, also reduced these naturally occurring spontaneous contractions. All these strongly indicate a physiological involvement of endogenous GABA in the control of spontaneous rhythmic activity in the intestine.

Baclofen, 3-amino-propylphosphonic acid (3-APPA), and beta-phenyl-GABA (BPG), each reduced the frequency of spontaneous paroxysmal discharges in rat neocortical slices maintained in Mg2+-free medium, reversibly antagonised by phaclofen and 4-amino-butylphosphonic acid (4-ABPA). At lower concentrations, not influencing the discharges, both 3-APPA and BPG also reversibly antagonised this action of baclofen. However, des-chloro-phaclofen was inactive. Thus, phaclofen and 4-ABPA are GABAB-receptor antagonists in neocortex, whereas both 3-APPA and BPG have partial agonist/antagonist activity at cortical GABAB-receptors.