gamma-Aminobutyric acid-induced modulation of acetylcholine release from the guinea pig lung

gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA) content was measured biochemically and the effect of GABA on the release of [3H]acetylcholine (ACh) was studied in strips of the guinea pig lung preloaded with [3H]choline. GABA contents were highest in the middle sections of the lung, as compared with proximal and distal areas. GABA evoked the release of [3H]ACh from the strips of the lung. The effect of GABA was mimicked by muscimol and antagonized by bicuculline and furosemide. Perfusion with Ca++-free medium and tetrodotoxin, but not nipecotic acid, inhibited the GABA- and muscimol-evoked release of [3H]ACh, thereby indicating that the released ACh was of neuronal origin. Diazepam and pentobarbital potentiated the muscimol-evoked [3H]ACh release. On the other hand, GABA reduced the KCl (40 mM)-evoked release of [3H]ACh in the presence of tetrodotoxin and bicuculline and baclofen mimicked the inhibitory effect of GABA. The effects of GABA and baclofen were not altered by alpha and beta adrenergic antagonists. These findings provide evidence for two types of GABA receptors in the lung of the guinea pig, and these receptors are involved in regulating the release of ACh.     

Functional modulation of cerebral gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptor/benzodiazepine receptor/chloride ion channel complex with ethyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate: presence of independent binding site for ethyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate

Effect of ethyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta-CCE) on the function of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)A receptor/benzodiazepine receptor/chloride ion channel complex was studied. Beta-CCE noncompetitively and competitively inhibited [3H]flunitrazepam binding to benzodiazepine receptor, but not [3H]muscimol binding to GABAA receptor as well as t-[3H]butylbicycloorthobenzoate [( 3H] TBOB) binding to chloride ion channel, in particulate fraction of the mouse brain. Ro15-1788 also inhibited competitively [3H] flunitrazepam binding. On the other hand, the binding of beta-[3H]CCE was inhibited noncompetitively and competitively by clonazepam and competitively by Ro15-1788. In agreement with these results, benzodiazepines-stimulated [3H]muscimol binding was antagonized by beta-CCE and Ro15-1788. Gel column chromatography for the solubilized fraction from cerebral particulate fraction by 0.2% sodium deoxycholate (DOC-Na) in the presence of 1 M KCl indicated that beta-[3H]CCE binding site was eluted in the same fraction (molecular weight, 250,000) as the binding sites for [3H]flunitrazepam, [3H]muscimol and [3H]TBOB. GABA-stimulated 36Cl- influx into membrane vesicles prepared from the bovine cerebral cortex was stimulated and attenuated by flunitrazepam and beta-CCE, respectively. These effects of flunitrazepam and beta-CCE on the GABA-stimulated 36Cl- influx were antagonized by Ro15-1788. The present results suggest that the binding site for beta-CCE, which resides on GABAA receptor/benzodiazepine receptor/chloride ion channel complex, may be different from that for benzodiazepine. Possible roles of beta-CCE binding site in the allosteric inhibitions on benzodiazepine binding site as well as on the functional coupling between chloride ion channel and GABAA receptor are also suggested.     

Inhibitory action of peripheral-type benzodiazepines on dopamine release from PC12 pheochromocytoma cells.

Characteristics of the benzodiazepine inhibition of dopamine (DA) release in PC12 cells were investigated. Diazepam inhibited DA release evoked by high concentrations of extracellular K+ in a dose-dependent manner (IC50, 10 microM). Ro 5-4864 [7-chloro-1,3-dihydro-1-methyl-5-(p-chlorophenyl)-2H-1,4-benzodiazepine- 2-one], a peripheral-type benzodiazepine, also inhibited DA release effectively. PK 11195 [1-(2-chlorophenyl)-N-methyl-N-(1-methyl-propyl)-3-isoquinoline carboxamide], a benzodiazepine generally considered a peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, did not antagonize the inhibition induced by diazepam, but rather inhibited DA release itself. On the other hand, the central-type benzodiazepines, clonazepam and Ro 15-1788 (ethyl-8-fluoro-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo[1,5a] [1,4]benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate) did not affect the DA release. Diazepam, Ro 5-4864 and PK 11195 also inhibited a Ba(++)-current carried by voltage-gated Ca++ channels, and diazepam suppressed an increase in intracellular Ca++ evoked by 80 mM extracellular K+ as measured by the fura-2 method. These results suggest that the inhibitory action of diazepam and other benzodiazepines on DA release from PC12 cells may be mediated through one type of peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors which are coupled to voltage-gated Ca++ channels and that these receptors may not necessarily be the same as those in other tissues.     

Benzodiazepines enhance the muscimol-dependent activation of phospholipase A2 in glioma C6 cells

Glioma C6 cells were incubated with [14C]arachidonate to label membrane phospholipids. Muscimol, a selective gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor agonist, but not (-)-baclofen, a selective gamma-aminobutyric acid B receptor agonist, stimulates [14C]arachidonate release from C6 cells as a result of hydrolysis of a small pool of phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine by phospholipase A2. This release is facilitated by diazepam and a number of other benzodiazepines such as flunitrazepam, medazepam and midazolam (but very little by clonazepam), although these benzodiazepines per se are inactive in causing the release. In addition to increasing the release of [14C]arachidonate, diazepam in the presence of muscimol promotes the release of [14C] prostaglandin D2. Bicuculline inhibits the action of muscimol and facilitation by diazepam. "Peripheral" benzodiazepine ligand, RO 5-4864 (4'-chlordiazepam) antagonizes the action of diazepam, whereas "central" ligand, RO 15-1788, is inactive. The release of arachidonate metabolites stimulated by muscimol and diazepam is unaffected by Cl- channel blockers, picrotoxin and pentylenetetrazol. Based on these results we propose that in glioma C6 cells (and presumably in normal glia) peripheral benzodiazepine receptor interacts functionally with gamma-aminobutyric acid A type of receptor, which appears not to be linked to picrotoxin sensitive Cl- channel, and may be linked to phospholipase A2.     

Binding interactions of convulsant and anticonvulsant gamma-butyrolactones and gamma-thiobutyrolactones with the picrotoxin receptor

Alkyl-substituted gamma-butyrolactones (GBLs) and gamma-thiobutyrolactones (TBLs) are neuroactive chemicals. beta-Substituted compounds are convulsant, whereas alpha-alkyl substituted GBLs and TBLs are anticonvulsant. The structural similarities between beta-alkyl GBLs and the convulsant picrotoxinin suggested that alkyl substituted GBLs and TBLs act at the picrotoxin receptor. To test this hypothesis we examined the interactions of convulsant and anticonvulsant GBLs and TBLs with the picrotoxin, benzodiazepine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) binding sites of the GABA receptor complex. All of these convulsants and anticonvulsants studied competitively displaced 35S-t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate (35S-TBPS), a ligand that binds to the picrotoxin receptor. This inhibition of 35S-TBPS binding was not blocked by the GABA antagonist bicuculline methobromide. The convulsant GBLs and TBLs also partially inhibited [3H]muscimol binding to the GABA site and [3H]flunitrazepam binding to the benzodiazepine site, but they did so at concentrations substantially greater than those that inhibited 35S-TBPS binding. The anticonvulsant GBLs and TBLs had no effect on either [3H]muscimol or [3H]flunitrazepam binding. In contrast to the GBLs and TBLs, pentobarbital inhibited TBPS binding in a manner that was blocked by bicuculline methobromide, and it enhanced both [3H]flunitrazepam and [3H]muscimol binding. Both ethosuximide and tetramethylsuccinimide, neuroactive compounds structurally similar to GBLs, competitively displaced 35S-TBPS from the picrotoxin receptor and both compounds were weak inhibitors of [3H] muscimol binding. In addition, ethosuximide also partially diminished [3H]flunitrazepam binding. These data demonstrate that the site of action of alkyl-substituted GBLs and TBLs is different from that of GABA, barbiturates and benzodiazepines. We suggest that the GBLs and TBLs act at the picrotoxin receptor.     

Cholecystokinin, but not gastrin, induces gamma-aminobutyric acid release from myenteric neurons of the guinea pig ileum

Effects of cholecystokinin (CCK) and gastrin on the release of acetylcholine (ACh) and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were examined in the longitudinal muscle with myenteric plexus (LM-MP) preparations of the guinea pig small intestine. CCK and gastrin induced the Ca++-dependent and tetrodotoxin-sensitive release of [3H]ACh from the LM-MP preparations preloaded with [3H]choline. Proglumide, but not scopolamine, hexamethonium and [D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9]substance P inhibited the release of [3H]ACh induced by CCK and gastrin. The desensitization to CCK and gastrin was observed with a 30-min exposure of the preparation to CCK and gastrin, respectively, and the cross-desensitization to peptides was not observed, thereby indicating that these peptides induce the release of ACh mainly via respective receptors. Bicuculline which inhibited completely the release of [3H]ACh induced by GABA inhibited the release of [3H]ACh induced by CCK but not by gastrin by 42.3 +/- 4.22%. CCK, but not gastrin, produced the Ca++-dependent and tetrodotoxin-sensitive release of endogenous GABA and [3H]GABA from LM-MP preparations preloaded with [3H]GABA. The release of [3H]GABA induced by CCK was antagonized by proglumide, but not by scopolamine, hexamethonium and [D-Pro2,D-Trp7,9]substance P. These results provide evidence that the GABAergic neuron is stimulated by CCK, but not by gastrin and stimulates the cholinergic neuron.     

Benzodiazepine and beta-carboline interactions with GABAA receptor-gated chloride channels in mammalian cultured spinal cord neurons

The interaction of benzodiazepine (BZ) and beta carbolines with GABAA receptor-gated chloride channels using 36Cl influx biochemical functional assay in mammalian spinal cord cultured neurons was investigated. BZ-receptor agonists such as flunitrazepam, diazepam, clonazepam and flurazepam enhanced the effect of submaximal concentrations of GABA (10 microM)-stimulated 36Cl influx. The rank order of potencies was flunitrazepam greater than clonazepam greater than diazepam greater than flurazepam. In contrast, methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (DMCM), ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta-CCE), N-methyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxamide (FG 7142) and ethyl-8-azido-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo [1,5 alpha][1,4]-benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate (Ro 15-4513) inhibited GABA-stimulated 36Cl influx. The rank order of inhibitory potencies for the inverse agonists was DMCM greater than beta-CCE greater than Ro 15-4513 greater than FG 7142. Although lower concentrations of Ro 15-1788 antagonized the enhancement of BZ agonists like diazepam and the inhibition of inverse agonists like DMCM on GABA-stimulated 36Cl influx without exhibiting any effect per se, higher concentrations of Ro 15-1788 (greater than or equal to 10(-6) M) enhanced GABA-stimulated 36Cl influx. These observations indicate that flunitrazepam, diazepam, clonazepam and flurazepam are agonists; DMCM, beta-CCE, Ro 15-4513 and FG 7142 are inverse agonists, whereas Ro 15-1788 is antagonist at lower concentrations and partial agonist at higher concentrations at the BZ receptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Presence of a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) uptake system on cholinergic terminals of rat hippocampus: evidence for neuronal coexistence of acetylcholine and GABA?

The effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on the basal release of [3H]acetylcholine ([3H]ACh) was investigated using synaptosomes prepared from rat hippocampus and superfused after prelabeling with [3H]choline. Exogenous GABA added to the superfusion medium caused a long-lasting and concentration-dependent enhancement of the basal efflux of [3H]ACh. The effect of GABA was not antagonized by bicuculline or picrotoxin. Muscimol increased slightly but not significantly the release of [3H]ACh, whereas (+/-)-baclofen or (-)-baclofen were ineffective. The effect of GABA was counteracted by SK&F 89976A [N-(4,4-diphenyl-3-butenyl)-nipecotic acid], SK&F 100330A [N-(4,4-diphenyl-3-butenyl)-guvacine] and SK&F 100561 [N-(4,4-diphenyl-3-butenyl)-homo-beta-proline], three novel inhibitors of GABA uptake, but was unaffected by hemicholinium-3 or by beta-alanine. Nipecotic acid, a substrate-inhibitor of the GABA transporter, mimicked GABA and enhanced [3H]ACh release. The results indicate that a GABA transport system is present on cholinergic terminals.     

Identification of a high-affinity peripheral-type benzodiazepine binding site in rat aortic smooth muscle membranes

The existence of a benzodiazepine binding site in rat aortic smooth muscle membranes was explored employing [3H]Ro5-4864 as radioligand. The binding site was concentrated in the mitochondrial fraction enriched with cytochrome c oxidase and semicarbazide-insensitive monoamine oxidase. [3H]Ro5-4864 binds to the membranes in the mitochondrial fraction with high affinity. The dissociation constant (KD) determined by saturation binding was 2.8 +/- 0.7 nM (n = 5). The association rate constant (k1) was 4.7 +/- 0.8 x 10(6) M1 min-1, and the dissociation rate constant (k-1) was 0.028 +/- 0.005 min-1 (n = 3). The kinetically determined KD was 6.0 +/- 0.8 nM (n = 3) at 0.5 nM [3H]Ro5-4864. The density of binding determined from saturation binding experiments was 14.0 +/- 1.2 pmol/mg protein (n = 5). The Hill coefficient of binding was 0.94 +/- 0.02 (n = 5) indicating that [3H] Ro5-4864 binds to a single site. The [3H]Ro5-4864 binding was inhibited by Ro5-4864 (Ki = 6.1 +/- 1.9 nM), PK 11195 (Ki = 8.9 +/- 1.8 nM), diazepam (Ki = 87.3 +/- 3.4 nM), flunitrazepam (Ki = 94.6 +/- 1.8 nM), clonazepam (Ki = 6.3 +/- 1.3 microM) and Ro15-1788 (Ki = 16.8 +/- 1.5 microM). The rank order of potency of the competitive inhibition of [3H]Ro5-4864 binding (Ro5-4864 = PK 11195 greater than diazepam = flunitrazepam much greater than clonazepam greater than Ro15-1788) is characteristic of the peripheral-type benzodiazepine binding site. The data indicate an abundant high affinity peripheral-type benzodiazepine binding site of unknown function in rat aortic smooth muscle cells.     

CGS 9896 and ZK 91296, but not CGS 8216 and RO 15-1788, are pure benzodiazepine receptor antagonists on mouse neurons in culture

The effects of several benzodiazepine receptor ligands on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) responses and on diazepam (DZ) enhancement of GABA responses on mouse spinal cord and cerebral hemisphere neurons are reported. The neurons were grown in primary dissociated cell culture, and intracellular microelectrode recording techniques were used. DZ and Ro 15-1788 reversibly enhanced GABA responses from spinal cord neurons in a concentration-dependent manner. Maximal enhancement was obtained for DZ at 500 nM (82%) and for Ro 15-1788 at 1 microM (18%). CGS 9896 and ZK 91296, in concentrations from 1 nM to 10 microM, were devoid of intrinsic effects in spinal cord and cerebral hemisphere neurons. CGS 8216 and methyl 6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (DMCM) reversibly and dose-dependently reduced GABA responses on spinal cord neurons. Maximal reduction was obtained for CGS 8216 at 50 nM (10%) and for DMCM at 1 microM (39%). CGS 8216 (IC50 = 2.6 nM), ZK 91296 (IC50 = 9 nM), CGS 9896 (IC50 = 17 nM) and Ro 15-1788 (IC50 = 40 nM) antagonized (100 nM) DZ enhancement of GABA responses in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, CGS 9896 antagonized the effects of Ro 15-1788 and CGS 8216 on GABA responses, and CGS 9896 and ZK 91296 antagonized the reduction of GABA responses by DMCM. On the studied neurons, DZ can be classified as an agonist, Ro 15-1788 as a weak partial agonist, CGS 8216 as a weak partial inverse agonist and DMCM as an inverse agonist at the benzodiazepine receptor. CGS 9896 and ZK 91296 were pure antagonists at the benzodiazepine receptor.     

Binding of a radiolabeled triazolopyridazine to a subtype of benzodiazepine receptor in the rat cerebellum

The triazolopyridazine (TPZ) drugs, typified by CL218,872 (CL), have a relatively higher affinity for a subpopulation of benzodiazepine (BZ) receptors. The binding of radiolabeled CL to membranes from rat cerebellum, a region enriched in the TPZ-preferring ("Type 1") BZ receptor, was characterized and compared with that of [3H]flunitrazepam ([3H]FLU) in the same preparation. [3H]CL had clonazepam displaceable binding which was saturable. The Kd was approximately 21 nM and the Bmax was approximately 600 fmol/mg of protein. [3H]CL binding was similar to that for [3H]FLU in that exogenous gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) enhanced the binding; however, [3H]CL binding differed from that for [3H]FLU in that anions, cartazolate and pentobarbital did not enhance [3H]CL binding. These data suggest that [3H]CL binds to the Type 1 BZ receptor in a manner different from that of a BZ drug such as FLU. Inasmuch as GABA enhances [3H]CL binding, but anions, cartazolate and pentobarbital do not, [3H]CL may bind to the Type 1 BZ receptor in such a way that it interacts with the GABA site, but perhaps not directly with the ionophore or the postulated pyrazolopyridine-barbiturate site. Thus, TPZ drugs may affect the GABA receptor complex in a different or perhaps less extensive way than the BZs. This, in addition to the regional localization of the Type 1 receptor, may be an important part of the mechanism of action of the TPZs.     

Steroid anesthetics and naturally occurring analogs modulate the gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor complex at a site distinct from barbiturates

The steroid anesthetic alphaxalone and a series of naturally occurring analogs were compared in potency and efficacy with each other and the hypnotic barbiturate pentobarbital for interaction with gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors:binding sites in rat brain membranes and functional activity in 36Cl- flux measurements with rat hippocampal slices. The steroids enhanced [3H]muscimol binding to GABA receptor sites, enhanced [3H] flunitrazepam binding to benzodiazepine receptors and inhibited [35S]t-butyl bicyclophosphorothionate binding to picrotoxin/convulsant binding sites on the GABA receptor-chloride channel complex. The same steroids that were active in modulating the binding of ligands to the various receptor sites on the GABA receptor complex at micromolar concentrations enhanced muscimol-stimulated 36Cl- flux in rat hippocampal slices. The steroids, like the barbiturates, increased the maximal response to muscimol but produced little or no potentiation of basal 36Cl- flux in the absence of GABA agonist. Although the effects of steroids and barbiturates were similar, separate sites of action were demonstrated conclusively by the observation that the two classes of compounds, when included together, gave additive or synergistic effects on binding, as well as on 36Cl- flux in the absence of GABA agonist. Structure-activity studies showed that the synthetic steroid anesthetic alphaxalone was the most potent compound tested, followed by the naturally occurring steroids tetrahydro-deoxycorticosterone, allo-tetrahydrocorticosterone, cis-androsterone and 5 alpha-androstan-17 beta-ol-3-one. The ability of several naturally occurring steroids to enhance GABA-mediated inhibition in the brain suggests the possibility of an endogenous steroid modulator of neuronal function.     

Dietary choline intake modulates benzodiazepine receptor binding and gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptor function in mouse brain

Several lines of evidence suggest that dietary choline intake influences the metabolism of membrane phospholipids with possible effects on GABAergic neurotransmission. Based on these findings, the present experiments determined whether chronic choline supplementation or deficiency alters GABAergic function at the level of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)/benzodiazepine-chloride channel complex. To accomplish this, mice were fed diets containing 0% (deficient), 0.2% (basal) or 2.0% (supplemented) choline chloride for 28 days, and behavior, ligand binding at several sites in the complex and chloride uptake were determined in various brain regions. For both rotarod ataxia and open-field activity, mice receiving choline supplementation had a decreased response to clonazepam compared to those receiving basal and deficient diets. Choline supplementation significantly increased the in vivo binding of [3H]Ro15-1788 to cortex and cerebellum by 19% and 24%, respectively, and in vitro studies in cortical membranes indicated a significant 36% increase in the maximal number of [3H]flunitrazepam binding sites without a change in affinity, as compared to basal controls. In contrast, [3H]Ro15-1788 binding in vivo in all brain regions from mice fed the deficient diet decreased significantly to 20 to 58% of control values. Dietary choline intake did not alter GABA levels in brain, the binding of [35S]t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate to the chloride channel or the coupling between GABA and either the t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate site or the benzodiazepine site. However, the function of the GABAA receptor, determined by muscimol-stimulated chloride uptake into cortical synaptoneurosomes, was increased significantly in tissue from the supplemented group as compared to both control and deficient groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Benzodiazepine agonist and inverse agonist actions on GABAA receptor-operated chloride channels. II. Chronic effects of ethanol

Mice were made tolerant to and dependent on ethanol by administration of a liquid diet. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor-dependent uptake of 36Cl- by mouse cortical microsacs was used to study the actions of benzodiazepine (BZ) agonists and inverse agonists. Chronic exposure to ethanol attenuated the ability of a BZ agonist, flunitrazepam, to augment muscimol-stimulated uptake of 36Cl- and enhanced the actions of BZ inverse agonists, Ro15-4513 (ethyl-8-azido-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo[1,4]-benzodiazepine - 3-carboxylate) and DMCM (methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate), to inhibit GABAA receptor-operated chloride channels. Augmentation of chloride flux by pentobarbital was not reduced by chronic ethanol exposure. Attenuation of flunitrazepam efficacy was transient and returned to control levels within 6 to 24 hr after withdrawal from ethanol, but increased sensitivity to Ro15-4513 was observed as long as 8 days after withdrawal. Chronic exposure to ethanol did not alter [3H]SR 95531 ([2-(3'-carbethoxy-2'propyl)-3-amino-6-p-methoxyphenylpyridazinium bromide] binding to low-affinity GABAA receptors or muscimol stimulation of chloride flux; and did not alter [3H]Ro15-4513 or [3H]flunitrazepam binding to central BZ receptors or allosteric modulation of this binding by muscimol (i.e., muscimol-shift). These results suggest that chronic exposure to ethanol reduces coupling between BZ agonist sites and the chloride channel, and may be responsible for the development of cross-tolerance between ethanol and BZ agonists. In contrast, coupling between BZ inverse agonist sites and the chloride channel is increased.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Benzodiazepine receptor occupancy in vivo: correlation with brain concentrations and pharmacodynamic actions

A tracer radioligand technique employing [3H]Ro 15-1788 was used to measure in vivo benzodiazepine receptor occupancy in mice. Animals were administered clonazepam (CNZ) or lorazepam (LRZ) i.p. or i.v., followed by [3H]Ro 15-1788. Plasma and cerebral cortical concentrations of the drug and cortical benzodiazepine receptor occupancy were determined at varying doses and times after administration. For both drugs, plasma and brain concentrations decreased in parallel with decreasing doses and with time, and the brain/plasma ratios remained constant. Receptor occupancy was maximal for CNZ and LRZ at doses above 1 and 4 mg/kg, respectively, and decreased with decreasing doses. Comparison of receptor occupancy with brain concentration yielded IC50 values of 21 ng/g for CNZ and 133 ng/g for LRZ. The apparent dissociation constant (Kd) for CNZ was 56 pmol/g and, for LRZ, 372 pmol/g. Hill plots yielded slopes of 1.30 for CNZ and 1.71 for LRZ. Alterations in the nonspecific uptake or elimination of Ro 15-1788 did not explain occupancy changes, inasmuch as brain concentrations of unlabeled Ro 15-1788 (6 mg/kg) were not changed by LRZ administration. The correlation between receptor occupancy and the pharmacodynamic actions of these drugs in blocking pentylenetetrazol seizures and inducing rotarod ataxia indicated that ED50 for these effects occurred at receptor occupancy of 30 to 60% for both drugs.     

Modulation of GABA-gated chloride ion flux in rat brain by acute and chronic benzodiazepine administration

gamma-Aminobutyric acid (GABA)-gated Cl- influx was studied in rat brain "microsacs." Midazolam caused a shift to the left of the GABA log dose-response curve. Pentobarbital produced a similar shift plus an increase in maximum response. Diazepam, flurazepam and desalkylflurazepam also enhanced GABA-gated Cl- flux. Their effects were blocked by Ro15-1788, a benzodiazepine antagonist. Acute diazepam pretreatment caused a shift to the left of the GABA dose-response curve but had no effect on the ability of benzodiazepines or pentobarbital to increase GABA-gated Cl- influx. In rats made tolerant by 4 weeks of flurazepam treatment, there was no decrease in the ability of GABA to mediate Cl- flux. GABA was more potent in microsacs from nonwithdrawn rats. In rats withdrawn for 12 but not 48 hr, the maximum GABA response was increased. The ability of benzodiazepines and of pentobarbital to enhance GABA-gated Cl- influx was reduced, showing tolerance. However, 2 days after withdrawal from chronic treatment, this was no longer statistically significant. The results show that benzodiazepine tolerance involves reduced functional coupling between the benzodiazepine recognition site and the GABA recognition site-Cl- channel. Furthermore, reduced effectiveness of GABAA agonists in benzodiazepine-tolerant animals might result from alterations in neuronal activity that occur subsequently to activation of the GABA receptor-gated anion channel.     

In vitro characterization of benzodiazepine receptor agonists, antagonists, inverse agonists and agonist/antagonists

Using an extensively washed membrane preparation and standardized incubation conditions, the actions of benzodiazepine (BZ) receptor ligands were evaluated on [3H]flunitrazepam [+/- 10 microM gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)], [3H]muscimol (+/- 2.5 microM etazolate) and [35S]butyl bicyclophosphorothionate (TBPS) binding. Classical BZ receptor agonists stimulated [35S]TBPS binding and [3H]muscimol binding in the presence of etazolate. These agents also possessed ratios for [3H]flunitrazepam binding in the absence and presence of GABA (GABA ratio) of 2 to 5. BZ antagonists and inverse agonists had GABA ratios less than 1 and did not alter, or reduced, both [35S]TBPS and [3H]muscimol (+etazolate) binding. The nonsedating BZ agonist/antagonist agents CGS 9896, CL 218872, PK 8165 and PK 9084 all possessed GABA ratios between 1.1 and 1.4 and only stimulated [35S]TBPS and [3H]muscimol (+etazolate) binding to approximately 50% of the level of classical BZ agonists. The BZ partial agonists CGS 9895 and RU 39419 both were unique in that they possessed GABA ratios of 1 or less, stimulated [35S]TBPS binding and had no effect on [3H]muscimol binding (+etazolate). Therefore, by monitoring the major components of the BZ receptor complex (BZ receptor, GABA receptor and chloride channel), we were able to distinguish between different BZ drugs and to support suggestions that these drugs act via unique BZ receptor populations which possess differential couplings to the GABA receptor and chloride channel.     

Behavioral studies with anxiolytic drugs. I. Interactions of the benzodiazepine antagonist Ro 15-1788 with chlordiazepoxide, pentobarbital and ethanol

Lever pressing by squirrel monkeys was maintained under two behavioral procedures known to be sensitive to anxiolytic drugs. Under one procedure, responding maintained by food was suppressed by electric shock (punishment). Under a second procedure, responding was maintained under a multiple schedule in which the first response after 5 min produced either food or shock depending on the stimulus that was present throughout the interval (fixed-interval schedule). Under the punishment schedule, chlordiazepoxide (1.0-100 mg/kg), pentobarbital (1.0-17.0 mg/kg) and ethanol (0.5-2.5 g/kg) increased responding. The benzodiazepine antagonist, Ro 15-1788 (1.0-10.0 mg/kg), which was without behavioral activity when given alone, reversed the effects of chlordiazepoxide in a dose-dependent manner. Ro 15-1788 did not antagonize the effects of pentobarbital or ethanol but potentiated the rate-increasing effects of these compounds. Under the multiple fixed-interval food- or shock-presentation schedule, both chlordiazepoxide and pentobarbital increased responding maintained by food but only decreased responding maintained by shock. Ro 15-1788 antagonized the rate-increasing effects of chlordiazepoxide under the food schedule and reversed the rate-decreasing effects during the shock-presentation schedule; pentobarbital effects were not altered by Ro 15-1788. Certain dose-combinations of chlordiazepoxide and Ro 15-1788 produced large increases in responding maintained by shock, an effect not seen with either drug alone. These studies indicate that Ro 15-1788 antagonizes the behavioral effects of benzodiazepines selectively but not those of other sedative-hypnotic drugs. These results also suggest that Ro 15-1788 may exert certain actions of its own or may unmask other drug effects when given in combination with benzodiazepine and nonbenzodiazepine compounds.     

Pharmacologic characterization of GABAA/benzodiazepine receptor in rat hippocampus during aging.

We have characterized the pharmacologic properties of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA)/benzodiazepine receptor complex in hippocampal membranes from 3-month- and 24-month-old Wistar rats. No major changes were found in [3H]flunitrazepam or [3H]muscimol binding parameters. Neither the dissociation constant(s) nor the Bmax for either ligand seemed to be modified during aging in hippocampus. Furthermore, the allosteric interaction between the barbiturates binding site and the GABA binding site, determined by pentobarbital stimulation of [3H] muscimol binding, remained unaltered. However, there was a significant increase with aging in the efficacy of the GABA-enhancement of [3H]flunitrazepam binding. On the other hand, we have also detected a significant increase in the proportion of type I benzodiazepine receptor in 24-month-old hippocampal membranes. We propose that the age-related increase in the efficacy of GABA-enhancement of [3H]flunitrazepam binding could be correlated with the increase in the proportion of type I benzodiazepine receptor. Based on these results it is tempting to speculate that the age-dependent modifications on the GABAA/benzodiazepine receptor might reflect an age-dependent neuronal degeneration of the hippocampus or the hippocampal formation.     

Osmotic shock: a method to eliminate endogenous gamma-aminobutyric acid and account for the influence on benzodiazepine binding affinity in autoradiographic studies

Inasmuch as the presence of endogenous gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) may affect benzodiazepine binding to tissue sections in autoradiographic studies, a protocol designed to check for this influence has been investigated. [3H]Flunitrazepam (1 nM) was used to label benzodiazepine receptors for autoradiographic localization. Bicuculline was added to the incubation medium of an additional set of tissue sections to antagonize any potential effect of endogenous GABA. Binding in these sections was compared to that occurring in another set in which excess GABA was added to "create" further GABA enhancement. Binding also was compared to adjacent sections which were treated similarly but also preincubated in distilled-deionized water to burst the cells by osmotic shock and eliminate endogenous GABA, thereby preventing any effect on benzodiazepine binding. The results indicated that endogenous GABA is indeed present in the slide-mounted tissue sections and is affecting benzodiazepine receptor binding differentially in various regions of the brain depending on the density of GABAergic innervation. Scatchard analysis of saturation data demonstrated that the alteration in benzodiazepine binding due to GABA was a result of a change in the affinity rather than number of receptors present. These experiments have been compared to the binding of the imidazodiazepine, [3H] Ro15-1788. We also show that the treatments affect endogenous GABA and not the receptors themselves. This suggests strongly that, when using a single nonsaturating concentration of radiolabeled benzodiazepine antagonist, autoradiographic studies to date may have been subject to erroneous interpretation due to the differential effects of endogenous GABA on benzodiazepine binding (increased affinity).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)