Peripheral type benzodiazepine receptor and airway smooth muscle relaxation

It has been postulated that a benzodiazepine receptor with a micromolar affinity may be associated with Ca++ channels in peripheral organs. We examined the actions of Ro5-4684 (parachlorodiazepam) and midazolam on guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle contraction. Binding studies using 3H]Ro5-4684 indicate the presence of a "peripheral" type binding site with a Kd of approximately 4 nM and maximum binding of 1 pmol/mg of protein. Midazolam did not displace radioligand. In tension studies no activity was seen for Ro5-4684 or midazolam at concentrations below 1 microM. Higher concentrations relaxed the airway smooth muscle under basal tone, the effect was augmented significantly by epithelium removal. Similar results were obtained in tissues precontracted with methacholine or KCl. Midazolam (1 or 100 microM) significantly (P less than .05) attenuated the response to Ca++ in K+-depolarized tracheal strips, the effect was greater at low Ca++ concentrations. The compounds appear to function as Ca++ antagonists in airway smooth muscle but ar not typical as shown by their ability to reduce basal tone in airway smooth muscle.