title: Electrophysiological actions of Ro5-4864 on cerebellar Purkinje neurons: evidence for "peripheral" benzodiazepine receptor-mediated depression.
abstract: The effects of Ro 5-4864 (4'-chlorodiazepam; the archetypic peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligand) were examined on the electrophysiological responses of rat cerebellar Purkinje neurons maintained in vitro. Ro 5-4864 produced a biphasic response (consisting of an increase followed by a decrease in spontaneous firing) in approximately 50% of the neurons studied. The remaining neurons responded to Ro 5-4864 application with decreased spontaneous activity. The EC50 and IC50 values for the excitatory and depressant responses to Ro 5-4864 were 490 and 450 nM, respectively. Preincubation with PK 11195 [N-methyl-N-(methyl-1-propyl)chloro-2-phenyl-1-isoquinoline-3-carboxamid e; a peripheral benzodiazepine receptor antagonist] reduced the potency of Ro 5-4864 to inhibit cell firing in a competitive fashion, but did not alter Ro 5-4864-elicited excitations. A similar effect was observed with the monocarboxylic acid anion transport inhibitor UK 5099 [alpha-cyano-beta-(1-phenylindol-3-yl)acrylate]. In contrast, the increases in cell firing elicited by t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate (a GABA-gated chloride channel blocker) were enhanced 6-fold by coperfusion with both Ro 5-4864 and PK 11195. These findings suggest that the Ro 5-4864 induced depressions of Purkinje neuron spontaneous activity is mediated by peripheral benzodiazepine receptors, whereas the excitation may result from modulation of the gamma-aminobutyric acid-gated chloride ionophore.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuroscience, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, Maryland.
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Basile
authors.forename: G T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Bolger
authors.forename: H W
authors.initials: HW
authors.lastname: Lueddens
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Skolnick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001570:Benzodiazepinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D011690:Purkinje Fibers / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D001570:Benzodiazepinones; D007546:Isoquinolines; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; C028513:4'-chlorodiazepam; C037850:PK 11195