title: Effects of prenatal phenobarbital on benzodiazepine receptor development.
abstract: Phenobarbital (PB) was administered to pregnant mice during days 9-21 of gestation. Forebrain and cerebellar [3H]flunitrazepam ([3H]FLU) binding was assayed in the offspring at birth and at 21 days of age. Prenatal treatment produced a decrease in the number (Bmax) of [3H]FLU receptors in both the forebrain and cerebellum at birth. A small decrease in the [3H]FLU dissociation constant (KD) values in the forebrain was also detected at birth, but no changes were seen in the [3H]FLU KD values in the cerebellum. No changes were observed in forebrain and cerebellar [3H]FLU Bmax or KD values at 21 days of age, indicating that the effects of prenatal exposure to PB on [3H]FLU binding are eliminated during the postnatal development of the forebrain and cerebellum. The receptor affinity for the triazolopyridazine CL 218,872, which distinguishes the type I and type II benzodiazepine (BDZ) receptors, was not altered by prenatal PB treatment. The coupling of the BDZ receptor to the gamma-aminobutyric acid and pentobarbital binding sites was unaffected by exposure to PB in utero.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000378:metabolism; D004027:Diencephalon / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005445:Flunitrazepam / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000378:metabolism; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism*; D013687:Telencephalon / Q000378:metabolism; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011724:Pyridazines; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005445:Flunitrazepam; C021604:CL 218872; D010634:Phenobarbital