TY - JOUR
T1 - Evaluation of functional GABAB receptors in dental pulp
AU - Wurm, Cathy
AU - Richardson, Jennelle Durnett
AU - Bowles, Walter
AU - Hargreaves, Kenneth M.
PY - 2001/1/1
Y1 - 2001/1/1
N2 - γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that is elevated in inflamed human dental pulp. Because GABA agonists are antihyperalgesic in other tissue, it is possible that GABA agonists have similar effects in dental pulp assuming that this tissue contains GABA receptors. We tested the hypothesis that dental pulp contains functional GABAB receptors using a GTPγ35S binding assay. This is a functional assay because GTPγ35S will be bound to cell membranes only when activation of metabotropic receptors has lead to binding and activation of their associated Gα-proteins via release of GDP and binding of the GTPγ35S. Baclofen, a GABAB agonist, evoked GTPγ35S binding in both human and bovine dental pulp. This was mediated by the GABAB receptor because it was blocked by the selective antagonist phaclofen in both tissues. The presence of GABA and its receptor, GABAB, suggests that this system may be relevant in the production or management of endodontic pain.
AB - γ-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that is elevated in inflamed human dental pulp. Because GABA agonists are antihyperalgesic in other tissue, it is possible that GABA agonists have similar effects in dental pulp assuming that this tissue contains GABA receptors. We tested the hypothesis that dental pulp contains functional GABAB receptors using a GTPγ35S binding assay. This is a functional assay because GTPγ35S will be bound to cell membranes only when activation of metabotropic receptors has lead to binding and activation of their associated Gα-proteins via release of GDP and binding of the GTPγ35S. Baclofen, a GABAB agonist, evoked GTPγ35S binding in both human and bovine dental pulp. This was mediated by the GABAB receptor because it was blocked by the selective antagonist phaclofen in both tissues. The presence of GABA and its receptor, GABAB, suggests that this system may be relevant in the production or management of endodontic pain.
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U2 - 10.1097/00004770-200110000-00005
DO - 10.1097/00004770-200110000-00005
M3 - Article
C2 - 11592491
AN - SCOPUS:0035491715
SN - 0099-2399
VL - 27
SP - 620
EP - 623
JO - Journal of endodontics
JF - Journal of endodontics
IS - 10
ER -