Enhanced neurosteroid potentiation of ternary GABA(A) receptors containing the delta subunit

Attenuated behavioral sensitivity to neurosteroids has been reported for mice deficient in the GABA(A) receptor delta subunit. We therefore investigated potential subunit-specific neurosteroid pharmacology of the following GABA(A) receptor isoforms in a transient expression system: alpha1beta3gamma2L, alpha1beta3delta, alpha6beta3gamma2L, and alpha6beta3delta. Potentiation of submaximal GABA(A) receptor currents by the neurosteroid tetrahydrodeoxycorticosterone (THDOC) was greatest for the alpha1beta3delta isoform. Whole-cell GABA concentration--response curves performed with and without low concentrations (30 nm) of THDOC revealed enhanced peak GABA(A) receptor currents for isoforms tested without affecting the GABA EC50. Alpha1beta3delta currents were enhanced the most (>150%), whereas the other isoform currents were enhanced 15-50%. At a higher concentration (1 microm), THDOC decreased peak alpha1beta3gamma2L receptor current amplitude evoked by GABA (1 mm) concentration jumps and prolonged deactivation but had little effect on the rate or extent of apparent desensitization. Thus the polarity of THDOC modulation depended on GABA concentration for alpha1beta3gamma2L GABA(A) receptors. However, the same protocol applied to alpha1beta3delta receptors resulted in peak current enhancement by THDOC of >800% and prolonged deactivation. Interestingly, THDOC induced pronounced desensitization in the minimally desensitizing alpha1beta3delta receptors. Single channel recordings obtained from alpha1beta3delta receptors indicated that THDOC increased the channel opening duration, including the introduction of an additional longer duration open state. Our results suggest that the GABA(A) receptor delta subunit confers increased sensitivity to neurosteroid modulation and that the intrinsic gating and desensitization kinetics of alpha1beta3delta GABA(A) receptors are altered by THDOC.