title: Benzodiazepine receptors are involved in tabernanthine-induced tremor: in vitro and in vivo evidence.
abstract: Tabernanthine, an indol alkaloid, is structurally related to carbolines (harmane, harmaline) which, in vitro, displace specific flunitrazepam binding to brain benzodiazepine receptors. In vivo, both tabernanthine and carbolines cause a fine general tremor, suggesting that a possible interaction with benzodiazepine receptors could be involved in the activity of tabernanthine. This hypothesis was validated by the in vitro and in vivo antagonism of benzodiazepine by tabernanthine. In vitro, tabernanthine inhibited specific flunitrazepam binding in a competitive manner with an affinity (IC50 150 microM) in the same range as harmane. Tabernanthine appeared as a benzodiazepine receptor inverse agonist in a discriminant in vitro binding assay. In vivo, the time course of tremorigenic activity was related to the tabernanthine concentration in brain (half-life = 2 h). Moreover, tabernanthine-induced tremor was inhibited reversibly by flunitrazepam or by Ro-15 1788 (an antagonist of benzodiazepine-receptors). These results suggest that part of the action of tabernanthine may be mediated by an interaction at the benzodiazepine receptor level.
authors.affiliation: Faculté de Pharmacie, Lab. Pharmacologie et Pharmacocinétique Expérimentale, Chatenay-Malabry, France.
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Trouvin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jacqmin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rouch
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lesne
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacquot
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D005260:Female; D005445:Flunitrazepam / Q000378:metabolism; D007050:Ibogaine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects*; D013574:Synaptosomes / Q000378:metabolism; D014202:Tremor / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D007050:Ibogaine; D005445:Flunitrazepam; C027202:tabernanthine; D001640:Bicuculline