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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

A Fluorescent Screening Assay for Identifying Modulators of GIRK Channels
Published on: April 24, 2012
G-protein-gated potassium (GIRK) channels containing the GIRK2 subunit are control hubs for pharmacologically induced
Alberto C S Costa1, Melissa R Stasko, Markus Stoffel
1Eleanor Roosevelt Institute, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80206, USA. acosta@du.edu
Abstract:
Hypothermic responses of rodents to the peripheral or intraventricular injection of many individual neurotransmitter receptor agonists have been well documented. Because many hypothermia-inducing agonists are also known to activate G-protein-gated potassium (GIRK) channels, we investigated the hypothermic response to several of these agents on Girk2 null mutant mice. Core body temperatures were measured through radiotelemetry, and animals were maintained in special temperature-regulated chambers to ensure the accuracy of the measurements. The resulting data indicate that the activation of GIRK2-containing potassium channels plays a significant role in hypothermia induced by the activation of serotonergic (5-HT(1A)), GABAergic (GABA(B)), muscarinic (m2), adenosine (A1), and mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptors. These channels also are involved in the alcohol-induced hypothermic response. These results have implications for the understanding of pharmacologically induced hypothermia and thermoregulatory mechanisms.
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