The insecticide fipronil and its metabolite fipronil sulphone inhibit the rat α1β2γ2L GABA_Areceptor

Abstract

We conclude that exposure to fipronil induces accumulation of receptors in a novel, long-lived blocked state. This process proceeds in parallel with and independently of, channel desensitization. The lower potency of fipronil sulphone indicates that the conversion serves as a detoxifying process in mammalian brain.