Re: Doc visit results

And in reference to:


http://www.medscape.com/medline/abstract/12421359






Here's the abstract that I meant to share:

"
Study of the nematode putative GABA type-A receptor subunits: evidence for modulation by ivermectin.

J Neurochem. 2002; 83(4):870-8 (ISSN: 0022-3042)

Feng XP; Hayashi J; Beech RN; Prichard RK
Institute of Parasitology, McGill University, Quebec, Canada.

Two alleles of the HG1 gene, which encodes a putative GABA receptor alpha/gamma subunit, were isolated from Haemonchus contortus. These two alleles were shown previously to be associated with ivermectin susceptibility (HG1A) and resistance (HG1E), respectively. Sequence analysis indicates that they differ in four amino acids. To explore the functional properties of the two alleles, a full-length cDNA encoding the beta subunit, a key functional component of the GABA receptor, was isolated from Caenorhabditis elegans (gab-1, corresponding to the GenBank locus ZC482.1) and coexpressed in Xenopus oocytes with the HG1 alleles. When gab-1 was coexpressed with either the HG1A allele or the HG1E allele in Xenopus oocytes, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-responsive channels with different sensitivity to the agonist were formed. The effects of ivermectin on the hetero-oligomeric receptors were determined. Application of ivermectin alone had no effect on the receptors. However, when coapplied with 10 micro m GABA, ivermectin potentiated the GABA-evoked current of the GAB-1/HG1A receptor, but attenuated the GABA response of the GAB-1/HG1E receptor. We demonstrated that the coexpressed HG1 and GAB-1 receptors are GABA-responsive, and provide evidence for the possible involvement of GABA receptors in the mechanism of ivermectin resistance.
"

.. Which states clearly that GABA receptors are found INSIDE helminths too:

Read this part:
"
a full-length cDNA encoding the beta subunit, a key functional component of the GABA receptor, was isolated from Caenorhabditis elegans (gab-1, corresponding to the GenBank locus ZC482.1) and coexpressed in Xenopus oocytes with the HG1 alleles.
"

At least inside Caenorhabditis elegans, a 'role-model' worm widely used in research and study, according to my knowledge and to sources:

"
Caenorhabditis elegans (IPA: [ˌsiːnəʊræbˈdaɪtɪs ˈelegænz]) is a free-living nematode (roundworm), about 1 mm in length, which lives in temperate soil environments. Research into the molecular and developmental biology of C. elegans was begun in 1974 by Sydney Brenner [1] and it has since been used extensively as a model organism.
"


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caenorhabditis_elegans



"
Caenorhabditis elegans is a small (about 1 mm long) soil nematode found in temperate regions. In the 1960's Sydney Brenner began using it to study the genetics of development and neurobiology. Since then the community of C elegans researchers has expanded several thousands. See Mark Blaxter's The Genetics of Caenorhabditis elegans, An Introduction for more information.
"


http://elegans.swmed.edu/




Thanks, Medscape.