Activation of α6-containing GABAA receptors induces antinociception under physiological and pathological conditions

This study investigates the role of α6-containing GABAA receptors in pain, particularly neuropathic pain, in rats and mice. Neuropathic pain is often associated with a decrease in GABAergic inhibition. The study aims to see if activating these receptors can reduce neuropathic pain. The researchers found that blocking or reducing the activity of these receptors in female rats caused increased sensitivity to pain. Conversely, activating these receptors reduced pain in neuropathic female rats and mice. The α6 subunit is found in specific nerve cells in the spinal cord and DRG. The study also found that nerve injury reduces the expression of the α6 subunit, and that the effects of activating these receptors were more pronounced in females than in males. The α6 subunit is also expressed in human spinal cord.

• 1
  α6-containing GABAA receptor blockade or knockdown induces hypersensitivity and spontaneous pain in naïve female rats.
• 2
  Nerve injury reduces α6 subunit protein expression in the central terminals of primary afferent neurons and DRG.
• 3
  PAMs of the α6-containing GABAA receptor reduces tactile allodynia and spontaneous nociceptive behaviors in female, but not male, neuropathic rats and mice.