ANTICARDIOLIPIN ANTISERA FROM LUPUS PATIENTS WITH SEIZURES REDUCE A GABA RECEPTOR-MEDIATED CHLORIDE CURRENT IN SNAIL NEURONS

The effects of circulating anticardiolipin (ACL) antisera in lupus patients on the LP5 central neuron of snail were studied. Both GABA and glutamate increased a chloride conductance of the LP5 neuron. The ACL antisera decreased the GABA-elicited responses in a concentration dependent manner while it had no effect on glutamate elicited responses. The ACL antisera affected neither the resting membrane current, nor the membrane conductivity of neuron. Antisera without the activity of anticardiolipin did not decrease the GABA-elicited responses. The seizure incidence of the patients with higher ACL antisera levels is also higher. It is concluded that ACL antisera inhibited the GABA ionophore receptor complex in a snail central neuron.