title: Interaction of putative anxiolytic agents with central adenosine receptors.
abstract: The benzodiazepine anxiolytics flurazepam and diazepam and CL 218872, zopiclone and two beta-carboline ethyl carboxyl esters, compounds which are potent displacers of specific [3H]diazepam binding from rat brain membranes, have little or no activity in displacing [3H]2-chloroadenosine ([3H]2-CADO) from central A1-adenosine receptors. Conversely, the purine agonists, 1-N6-phenylisopropyladenosine, N6-cyclohexyladenosine, 2-chloroadenosine, and the adenosine antagonist 8-phenyltheophylline have no significant effect on [3H]diazepam binding. Etazolate (SQ 20009) and Avermectin B1a which enhance [3H]diazepam binding in vitro were also without significant effect on [3H]2-CADO binding. The lack of correlation of the activities of the compounds examined in the two binding assays is discussed in relation to the hypothesis that purine-like compounds may be involved in the molecular mechanisms related to anxiolytic action at the receptor level.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000378:metabolism; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011687:Purines / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface / Q000502:physiology*; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D011687:Purines; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic; D001569:Benzodiazepines