GABA A Receptors of Cerebellar Granule in Culture: Interaction with Benzodiazepines

GABAA receptor mediated inhibition plays an important role in modulating the input/output dynamics of cerebellum. A characteristic of cerebellar GABAA receptors is the presence in cerebellar granule cells of subunits such as a6 and d which give insensitivity to classical benzodiazepines. In fact, cerebellar GABAA receptors have generally been considered a poor model for testing drugs which potentially are active at the benzodiazepine site. In this overview we show how rat cerebellar granule cells in culture may be a useful model for studying new benzodiazepine site agonists. This is based on the pharmacological separation of diazepam-sensitive a1 b2/3 c2 receptors from those which are diazepam-insensitive and contain the a6 subunit. This is achieved by utilizing furosemide/Zn2? which block a6 containing and incomplete receptors