Chronic Pregabalin Treatment Decreases Excitability of Dentate Gyrus and Accelerates Maturation of Adult-born Granule Cells

Abstract

Pregabalin (PGB) is extensively prescribed to treat neurological andneuropsychiatrical conditions such as neuropathic pain, anxiety disorders and epilepsy.Although PGB is known to bind selectively to the α2δ subunit of voltage gated calciumchannels, there is little understanding about how it exerts its therapeutic effects. In thisarticle we analyzed the effects of an in vivo chronic treatment with PGB over thephysiology of dentate gyrus granule cells (DGGCs) using ex vivo electrophysiological andmorphological analysis in adult mice. We found that PGB decreases neuronal excitabilityof DGGCs. In addition, PGB accelerates maturation of adult-born DGGCs, an effect thatwould modify dentate gyrus plasticity. Together, these findings suggest that PGB reducesactivity in the dentate gyrus and modulates overall network plasticity, which mightcontribute to its therapeutic effects