title: GABA induces down-regulation of the benzodiazepine-GABA receptor complex in the rat cultured neurons.
abstract: Cultured neurons from embryonic rat brain display central type benzodiazepine receptors characterized by high-affinity binding of [3H]flunitrazepam which is allosterically enhanced in the presence of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). A 48 h treatment of the cultured neurons with 1 microM diazepam, 0.1 microM clonazepam or 0.1 microM beta-carboline ester derivatives did not change either Bmax or KD values of the [3H]flunitrazepam specific binding. A 48 h incubation in the presence of GABA (1 mM) or muscimol (0.1 mM) induced a 30% decrease of the Bmax value of [3H]flunitrazepam specific binding without change of the KD value. The down-regulation was dependent on GABA concentrations and temperature, and was partially inhibited by bicuculline but not by the benzodiazepine antagonist Ro 15-1788. The other subunits of the benzodiazepine-GABA-chloride channel receptor complex also seemed to be down-regulated by GABA since there was a decrease of the specific binding of [3H]muscimol and [35S]t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate (TBPS) to the GABAA and chloride channel sites respectively. The GABA-induced down-regulation of the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor seems to be selective since the specific binding of ligands to other receptors was not affected. Our results suggests that activation of the low-affinity GABA subunit which is involved in cellular electrophysiological responses, induced the receptor down-regulation.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Neurochimie, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Maloteaux
authors.forename: J N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Octave
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gossuin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Laterre
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trouet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001640:Bicuculline / Q000494:pharmacology; D005445:Flunitrazepam / Q000378:metabolism*; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism*; D011869:Radioligand Assay; D051381:Rats; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D018756:GABA Antagonists; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005445:Flunitrazepam; D001640:Bicuculline