Sulfone metabolite of fipronil blocks gamma-aminobutyric acid- and glutamate-activated chloride channels in mammalian and insect neurons.

Abstract

Fipronil sulfone, a major metabolite of fipronil in both insects and mammals, binds strongly to GABA receptors and is thought to play a significant role in poisoning by fipronil. To better understand the mechanism of selective insecticidal action of fipronil, we examined the effects of its sulfone metabolite on GABA- and glutamate-activated chloride channels (GluCls) in cockroach thoracic ganglion neurons and on GABA(A) receptors in rat dorsal root ganglion neurons using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Fipronil sulfone blocked both desensitizing and nondesensitizing GluCls in the cockroach. Activation was required for block and unblock of desensitizing GluCls. In contrast, activation was not prerequisite for block and unblock of nondesensitizing channels. After repetitive activation of the receptors, the IC50 of fipronil sulfone to block the desensitizing GluCls was reduced from 350 to 25 nM and that for blocking nondesensitizing GluCls was reduced from 31.2 to 8.8 nM. This use-dependent block may be explained by its slow unbinding rate. In cockroach and rat neurons, fipronil sulfone blocked GABA receptors in both activated and resting states, with IC50 values ranging from 20 to 70 nM. In conclusion, although fipronil sulfone is a potent inhibitor of cockroach GABA receptors, desensitizing and nondesensitizing GluCls, and rat GABA(A) receptors, its selective toxicity in insects over mammals appears to be associated with its potent blocking action on both desensitizing and nondesensitizing GluCls, which are lacking in mammals.

• Authors: Xilong Zhao, Jay Z Yeh, Vincent L Salgado, Toshio Narahashi
• Journal: The Journal of pharmacology and experimental therapeutics (J Pharmacol Exp Ther) Vol. 314 Issue 1 Pg. 363-73 (Jul 2005) ISSN: 0022-3565 [Print] United States
• PMID: 15701711 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Chloride Channels
• Insecticides
• Pyrazoles
• Receptors, GABA
• Receptors, GABA-A
• Sulfones
• Glutamic Acid
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
• fipronil

Topics

• Animals
• Animals, Newborn
• Chloride Channels (antagonists & inhibitors)
• Cockroaches (physiology)
• Ganglia, Spinal (cytology, drug effects)
• Glutamic Acid (physiology)
• Insecta (physiology)
• Insecticides (pharmacokinetics, pharmacology)
• Kinetics
• Membrane Potentials (drug effects)
• Neurons (drug effects)
• Patch-Clamp Techniques
• Pyrazoles (pharmacokinetics, pharmacology)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Receptors, GABA (drug effects)
• Receptors, GABA-A (drug effects)
• Sulfones (pharmacokinetics, pharmacology)
• gamma-Aminobutyric Acid (physiology)