title: Brain specific benzodiazepine receptors.
abstract: Brain membranes from rat and human contain a single class of brain specific binding sites for pharmacologically and clinically active benzodiazepines. There is good correlation between the pharmacological effects of benzodiazepines and the affinity for the 3H-diazepam binding site. Benzodiazepine binding sites are not present on glial cells. Selective neuronal degeneration experiments in rats indicate a neuronal localization. 3H-Flunitrazepam is a very suitable ligand for affinity binding and it binds to the same class of binding sites as 3H-diazepam. Our results indicate that the in vitro 3H-diazepam and 3H-flunitrazepam binding sites are the receptors which in vivo mediate various pharmacological and clinical effects of benzodiazepines.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D005445:Flunitrazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D008566:Membranes / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000187:drug effects*; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D011955:Receptors, Drug; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D005445:Flunitrazepam; D003975:Diazepam