title: Interaction of the beta-carboline harmaline with a GABA-benzodiazepine mechanism: an electrophysiological investigation on rat hippocampal slices.
abstract: An interaction of harmaline (HA), a beta-carboline, with benzodiazepine (Bzd) receptors, has been reported. HA perfusion induced a similar, although less potent, depressing effect as clonazepam (CLO) on the amplitude of the population spikes (PS) evoked by Schaffer collateral stimulation in the CA1 area of rat hippocampal slices. The suppressant effect of both CLO and HA on PS amplitude was reversed by simultaneous perfusion of the GABA antagonist picrotoxin. These results suggest that HA acts as a weak or partial agonist at Bzd receptors.
authors.affiliation: I.M. Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry, St. Petersbourg, Russian Federation.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buldakova
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dutova
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D002998:Clonazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004594:Electrophysiology; D018756:GABA Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology; D006246:Harmaline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002998:Clonazepam; D018756:GABA Antagonists; D018757:GABA Modulators; D006246:Harmaline; D010852:Picrotoxin; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A