[Ionic mechanisms of the effects of phenibut and GABA unrelated to changes in the function of chloride channels].

It is established that beta-phenyl-GABA (phenibut) and partly GABA elicit direct depolarization of the isolated spinal cord motoneurons. The depolarizing effect of phenibut and a depolarizing component of GABA action do not alter in the presence of picrotoxin (10(-5) mol/l) and in the chloride-deficient medium. This depolarizing phenibut effect which is not bound with activation of GABAA-receptors and chloride channels coupled with them does not alter in Na+-deficient medium, enhances in the medium with excess of K+ ions (10 mol/l) and in presence of imidazol (5 . 10(-4) mol/l) and is completely abolished in the Ca2+-deficient medium with 2 mmol/l of Mn2+ or in the presence of 10(-4) mol/l theophylline. It is supposed that phenibut and partly GABA diminish intracellular concentration of cAMP via GABAB-receptor activation and decrease functional activity of voltage-dependent Ca2+-ionic channels and Ca2+-activated outward K+-currents.