Sodium salicylate reduces gamma aminobutyric acid-induced current in rat spinal dorsal horn neurons

Abstract

Sodium salicylate is one of the nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and is clinically used for antiinflammation and chronic pain relief. In the present study, we investigated the actions of sodium salicylate on γ-aminobutyric acid type A receptor (GABA_A) current in cultured rat spinal dorsal horn neurons. Sodium salicylate was found to reduce GABA_A current in a reversible and concentration-dependent manner, but did not change its ion selectivity. Sodium salicylate was effective only when GABA and sodium salicylate were applied together. Application of sodium salicylate immediately before, but not during, the application of GABA did not result in a significant reduction of GABA_A current. Our results demonstrate that sodium salicylate reversibly attenuates the GABA_A response of dorsal horn neurons, suggesting that GABA_A receptors in the region are pharmacological targets of sodium salicylate.