Water soluble benzodiazepines with agonistic and antagonistic actions on GABA-induced inhibition in cultured hypothalamus.
The interaction of two benzodiazepine compounds, flurazepam (a sedative and RO 5-3663 (a convulsant), with amino acid depressions of spontaneous neuronal activity in hypothalamic tissue cultures has been examined. Flurazepam selectively potentiated, GABA-induced inhibition, while RO 5-3663 selectively reduced GABA-induced inhibtion. These results are interpreted as supporting the presence of two types of benzodiazepine binding sites in the brain which would modulate endogenous GABA-mediated inhibition and behavior.
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001570:Benzodiazepinones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005479:Flurazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D001570:Benzodiazepinones; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005479:Flurazepam