Tibolone Rapidly Attenuates the GABAB Response in Hypothalamic Neurones

• Published in: Journal of neuroendocrinology Vol. 20; no. 12; pp. 1310 - 1318
• Main Authors: Qiu, J., Bosch, M. A., Rønnekleiv, O. K., Kloosterboer, H. J., Kelly, M. J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2008; Blackwell
• Subjects: Animals; Baclofen - metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Estrenes - metabolism; Estrogen Receptor alpha - agonists; Estrogen Receptor alpha - genetics; Estrogen Receptor alpha - metabolism; Estrogen Receptor Modulators - chemistry; Estrogen Receptor Modulators - metabolism; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; G Protein-Coupled Inwardly-Rectifying Potassium Channels - metabolism; GABA Agonists - metabolism; GABAB receptor; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid - metabolism; GIRK channel; GTP-Binding Protein alpha Subunits, Gq-G11 - metabolism; Guinea Pigs; Hypothalamus - cytology; Hypothalamus - metabolism; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Mice, Knockout; Molecular Structure; Neurons - cytology; Neurons - metabolism; Norpregnenes - chemistry; Norpregnenes - metabolism; oestrogen; Patch-Clamp Techniques; potassium channel; Pyrrolidinones - metabolism; Receptors, GABA-B - metabolism; Signal Transduction - physiology; tibolone; Type C Phospholipases - antagonists & inhibitors; Vertebrates: endocrinology; oestrogen; Corticosteroid; GIRK channel; GABAB receptor; Tibolone; Central nervous system; Estrogen; Ionic channel; Hypothalamus; Inorganic element; Ovarian hormone; Encephalon; potassium channel; Sex steroid hormone; Gabaergic receptor B; Potassium
• ISSN: 0953-8194; 1365-2826
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2826.2008.01789.x

Tibolone is primarily used for the treatment of climacteric symptoms. Tibolone is rapidly converted into three major metabolites: 3α‐ and 3β‐hydroxy (OH)‐tibolone, which have oestrogenic effects, and the Δ4‐isomer (Δ4‐tibolone), which has progestogenic and androgenic effects. Because tibolone is effective in treating climacteric symptoms, the effects on the brain may be explained by the oestrogenic activity of tibolone. Using whole‐cell patch clamp recording, we found previously that 17β‐oestradiol (E2) rapidly altered γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurotransmission in hypothalamic neurones through a membrane oestrogen receptor (mER). E2 reduced the potency of the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen to activate G‐protein‐coupled, inwardly rectifying K+ (GIRK) channels in hypothalamic neurones. Therefore, we hypothesised that tibolone may have some rapid effects through the mER and sought to elucidate the signalling pathway of tibolone’s action using selective inhibitors and whole cell recording in ovariectomised female guinea pigs and mice. A sub‐population of neurones was identified post hoc as pro‐opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurones by immunocytochemical staining. Similar to E2, we have found that tibolone and its active metabolite 3βOH‐tibolone rapidly reduced the potency of the GABAB receptor agonist baclofen to activate GIRK channels in POMC neurones. The effects were blocked by the ER antagonist ICI 182 780. Other metabolites of tibolone (3αOH‐tibolone and Δ4‐tibolone) had no effect. Furthermore, tibolone (and 3βOH‐tibolone) was fully efficacious in ERα knockout (KO) and ERβKO mice to attenuate GABAB responses. The effects of tibolone were blocked by phospholipase C inhibitor U73122. However, in contrast to E2, the effects of tibolone were not blocked by protein kinase C inhibitors or protein kinase A inhibitors. It appears that tibolone (and 3βOH‐tibolone) activates phospholipase C leading to phosphatidylinositol bisphosphate metabolism and direct alteration of GIRK channel function. Therefore, tibolone may enhance synaptic efficacy through the Gq signalling pathways of mER in brain circuits that are critical for maintaining homeostatic functions.