Flunitrazepam rapidly reduces GABA(A) receptor subunit protein expression via a protein kinase C-dependent mechanism.

Acute flunitrazepam (1 microM) exposure for 1 h reduced GABA(A) receptor alpha1 (22+/-4%, mean+/-s.e.mean) and beta2/3 (21+/-4%) subunit protein levels in cultured rat cerebellar granule cells. This rapid decrease in subunit proteins was completely prevented by bisindolymaleimide 1 (1 microM), an inhibitor of protein kinase C, but not by N-[2-((p-bromocinnamyl)amino)ethyl]-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide (H-89, 4.8 microM), an inhibitor of protein kinases A and G. These results suggest the existence of a benzodiazepine-induced mechanism to rapidly alter GABA(A) receptor protein expression, that appears to be dependent on protein kinase C activity.