Cerebellar α -subunit-containing GABA receptors: a novel therapeutic target for disrupted prepulse inhibition in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Background And Purpose: The pathophysiological role of α -subunit-containing GABA receptors, which are mainly expressed in cerebellar granule cells, remains unclear. Recently, we demonstrated that hispidulin, a flavonoid isolated from a local herb that remitted a patient's intractable motor tics, attenuated methamphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion in mice as a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of cerebellar α GABA receptors. Here, using hispidulin and a selective α GABA receptor PAM, the pyrazoloquinolinone Compound 6, we revealed an unprecedented role of cerebellar α GABA receptors in disrupted prepulse inhibition of the startle response (PPI), which reflects sensorimotor gating deficits manifested in several neuropsychiatric disorders.

Experimental Approach: PPI disruptions were induced by methamphetamine and NMDA receptor antagonists in mice. Effects of the tested compounds were measured in Xenopus oocytes expressing recombinant α β γ GABA receptors.

Key Results: Hispidulin given i.p. or by bilateral intracerebellar (i.cb.) injection rescued PPI disruptions induced by methamphetamine, ketamine, MK-801 and phencyclidine. Intracerebellar effects of hispidulin were mimicked by Ro15-4513 and loreclezole (two α GABA receptor PAMs), but not by diazepam (an α GABA receptor-inactive benzodiazepine) and were antagonized by furosemide (i.cb.), an α GABA receptor antagonist. Importantly, Compound 6 (i.p.) also rescued methamphetamine-induced PPI disruption, an effect prevented by furosemide (i.cb.). Both hispidulin and Compound 6 potentiated α β γ GABA receptor-mediated GABA currents.

Conclusions And Implications: Positive allosteric modulation of cerebellar α GABA receptors rescued disrupted PPI by attenuating granule cell activity. α GABA receptor-selective PAMs are potential medicines for treating sensorimotor gating deficits in neuropsychiatric disorders. A mechanistic hypothesis is based on evidence for cerebellar contributions to cognitive functioning including sensorimotor gating.