title: Up-regulation of L-type high voltage-gated calcium channel subunits by sustained exposure to 1,4- and 1,5-benzodiazepines in cerebrocortical neurons.
abstract: The aim of this study is to examine how sustained exposure to two 1,4-benzodiazepines (BZDs) with different action period, diazepam and brotizolam, and a 1,5-BZD, clobazam, affects L-type high voltage-gated calcium channel (HVCC) functions and its mechanisms using primary cultures of mouse cerebral cortical neurons. The sustained exposure to these three BZDs increased [(45)Ca2+] influx, which was due to the enhanced [(45)Ca2+] entry through L-type HVCCs but not through of Cav2.1 and Cav2.2. Increase in [(3)H]diltiazem binding after the exposure to these three BZDs was due to the increase in the binding sites of [(3)H]diltiazem. Western blot analysis showed increase of Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 in association with the increased expression of alpha2/delta1 subunit. Similar changes in [(3)H]diltiazem binding and L-type HVCC subunit expression were found in the cerebral cortex from mouse with BZD physical dependence. These results indicate that BZDs examined here have the potential to increase L-type HVCC functions mediated via the enhanced expression of not only Cav1.2 and Cav1.3 but also alpha2/delta1 subunit after their sustained exposure, which may participate in the development of physical dependence by these BZDs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Kawasaki Medical University, Kurashiki, Japan.
authors.forename: Masashi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Katsura
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shibasaki
authors.forename: Kazuhiro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurokawa
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsujimura
authors.forename: Seitaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ohkuma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001381:Azepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001667:Binding, Competitive / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D021122:Protein Subunits / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013375:Substance Withdrawal Syndrome / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001381:Azepines; C514350:CACNA1C protein, mouse; C512066:CACNA2D1 protein, mouse; C485995:Cacna1d protein, mouse; D015220:Calcium Channels; D020746:Calcium Channels, L-Type; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D021122:Protein Subunits; D001569:Benzodiazepines; C020960:brotizolam; D003975:Diazepam