Interaction of androsterone and progesterone with inhibitory ligand-gated ion channels: a patch clamp study

Gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor type A (GABA(A)) receptor channels mediate fast inhibitory neurotransmission throughout the central nervous system while the expression of ionotropic glycine receptors is mainly restricted to the spinal cord and brain stem. Neuroactive steroids are well known as positive allosteric modulators of GABA(A) receptor function. Furthermore, there have been hints for an interaction of neuroactive steroids with ionotropic glycine receptors. The aim of the study was to characterize the effect of androsterone and progesterone on alpha(1) and alpha(1)beta glycine receptor and alpha(1)beta(2)gamma(2) GABA(A) receptor channels and to examine the molecular interactions between ligands and receptors. Electrophysiological recordings were performed on HEK 293 cells using the patch clamp technique in combination with an ultrafast perfusion system. A direct activation of inhibitory ionotropic receptors was observed for androsterone at GABA(A) receptor channels. A coactivation of currents elicited by nonsaturating agonist concentrations was observed with androsterone and progesterone at glycine and GABA(A) receptor channels. We could show that association of beta subunits with alpha subunits affects the sensitivity of glycine receptors to androsterone. In contrast to previous reports in which recombinant glycine receptors were inhibited by progesterone, a potentiating effect was revealed by our experiments. At concentrations of 0.1 mM and higher, there were also hints to a channel block-like mechanism. In conclusion, different molecular mechanisms of interaction between neuroactive steroids and GABA as well as glycine receptors could be identified and quantitatively described. Our data clarify the role of steroid compounds in the modulation of inhibitory receptor channel function.