Benzodiazepine receptors: the effect of GABA on their characteristics in human brain and their alteration in Huntington's disease.
The characteristics of bezodiazepine (BDZ) receptors were studied in the putamen and substantia nigra (SN) of control and Huntington's disease (HD) human brains. In the putamen, there was a significant decrease in density BDZ receptors in the HD tissue. In addition the application of GABA significantly potentiated DBZ receptor binding in both the HD and control putamen. In the SN, an increase in BDZ receptor density was detected in the HD tissue. GABA enhanced [3H]flunitrazepam binding in both the HD and control SN by increasing the affinity of BDZ receptors for [3H]flunitrazepam. The results suggest that there are alterations in BDZ receptors in HD human brain and that these alterations may be related to the neuronal pathology of this disease. This study also provides evidence for a coupling of GABA receptors to BDZ receptors in human brain.
D000368:Aged; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D005445:Flunitrazepam / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006816:Huntington Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D011699:Putamen / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D005445:Flunitrazepam