Effects of cortisol on GABAA receptor-mediated responses compared in guinea-pig ileum and rat cuneate nucleus

Submaximal contractions of the isolated guinea-pig ileum by the GABAA receptor agonist muscimol were enhanced by about 30% in the presence of 1-100 pM cortisol. At 10 nM cortisol, the enhancement was much less and, at 1 microM, the responses to muscimol were reduced by about 50%. Corticosterone had similar effects but it was 100-1000 times less potent. In contrast, submaximal depolarization responses of the slice preparation of the cuneate nucleus of the rat to muscimol were unaffected by 1 pM-1 nM cortisol and only slightly enhanced (about 15%) by 1 microM cortisol. Also, enhancements of 70-120% by 1 microM alphaxalone were undiminished in the presence of 1 microM cortisol. Thus, there is no evidence for a potent effect of cortisol on the GABAA receptor complex in the cuneate nucleus of the rat.