The alpha and gamma subunit-dependent effects of local anesthetics on recombinant GABA(A) receptors

Although convulsions due to local anesthetic systemic toxicity are thought to be due to inhibition of GABA(A) receptor-linked currents in the central nervous system, the mechanism of action remains unclear. We therefore examined the effects of local anesthetics on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-induced currents using recombinant GABA(A) receptors with specific combinations of subunits. Murine GABA(A) receptors were expressed by injection of cRNAs encoding each subunit into Xenopus oocytes. The effects of local anesthetics (lidocaine, bupivacaine, procaine and tetracaine) on GABA-induced currents of receptors expressing different subunit combinations (alpha1beta2, alpha1beta2gamma2s, alpha4beta2gamma2s and beta2) were examined via the two electrode voltage clamp method. At alpha1beta2, alpha1beta2gamma2s and alpha4beta2gamma2s GABA(A) receptors, all local anesthetics inhibited GABA-induced currents in a dose-dependent manner. The presence of the gamma2s subunit resulted in a greater inhibition by all local anesthetics, but the presence of the alpha4 subunit resulted in less inhibition. At beta2 homomeric receptors, local anesthetics directly induced an outward current similar to that of picrotoxin. These data indicated that (1) the alpha and gamma subunits of GABA(A) receptors modulated the inhibitory effects of local anesthetics on GABA(A) function, and (2) local anesthetics can activate the beta2 subunit and may block the GABA(A) receptor channel pore.