Alleviation by GABA Receptors of Neurotoxicity Mediated by Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore in Cultured Murine Cortical Neurons Exposed to N-Methyl-D-aspartate.

Mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PTP) is supposed to at least in part participate in molecular mechanisms underlying the neurotoxicity seen after overactivation of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor (NMDAR) in neurons. In this study, we have evaluated whether activation of GABA receptor (GABAR), which is linked to membrane G protein-coupled inwardly-rectifying K ion channels (GIRKs), leads to protection of the NMDA-induced neurotoxicity in a manner relevant to mitochondrial membrane depolarization in cultured embryonic mouse cortical neurons. The cationic fluorescent dye 3,3'-dipropylthiacarbocyanine was used for determination of mitochondrial membrane potential. The PTP opener salicylic acid induced a fluorescence increase with a vitality decrease in a manner sensitive to the PTP inhibitor ciclosporin, while ciclosporin alone was effective in significantly preventing both fluorescence increase and viability decrease by NMDA as seen with an NMDAR antagonist. The NMDA-induced fluorescence increase and viability decrease were similarly prevented by pretreatment with the GABAR agonist baclofen, but not by the GABAR agonist muscimol, in a fashion sensitive to a GABAR antagonist. Moreover, the GIRK inhibitor tertiapin canceled the inhibition by baclofen of the NMDA-induced fluorescence increase. These results suggest that GABAR rather than GABAR is protective against the NMDA-induced neurotoxicity mediated by mitochondrial PTP through a mechanism relevant to opening of membrane GIRKs in neurons.