Inhibitory effects of insulin on GABAA currents modulated by the GABAA alpha subunit

Insulin, when co-applied with GABA, can cause an inhibition of the induced current at GABAA receptors. This study investigated that inhibitory effect of insulin at a variety of receptor isoforms, concentrating on α1, α2 and α4 containing receptors. Various isoforms were expressed in Xenopus oocytes and currents determined using two-electrode voltage clamp. Submaximal GABA currents at all isoforms studied were inhibited by nanomolar concentrations of insulin. At α2 and α4 containing forms, insulin could inhibit maximal GABA currents. The ability to inhibit maximal currents, and the general potency and effects at submaximal currents paralleled the number of potential MAPK sites on the α subunits. The differences in insulin inhibition of GABA currents at different α containing GABAA receptors could be important in autocrine and paracrine control of hormone secretion in the pancreas, and in control of reward and food intake circuits of the brain.