PMID: 6106485Jan 1, 1980Paper

Benzodiazepines and neurotransmitters

Arzneimittel-Forschung
E Costa

Abstract

Benzodiazepines have been shown to change the turnover rate of 5-HT, ACh and catecholamines stored in selected brain areas, but the doses required for these effects are several-fold higher than those which elicit a persistent punished behavior or antagonize isoniazid, bicuculline or picrotoxin convulsion. The selective antagonism against convulsions elicited by drugs that impair GABAergic transmission, the capability of muscimol and other GABA receptors agonists to mimic behavioral and anticonvulsant action of the benzodiazepines have suggested that benzodiazepines facilitate GABA transmission. This facilitation of the GABA tranmission is due to an allosteric facilitation of high-affinity GABA binding to postsynaptic receptors. Also, the high-affinity binding of the benzodiazepines can be facilitated by GABA mimetics. Endogenous inhibitors of the benzodiazepines and GABA binding extracted from synaptic membranes play a role in facilitating these interactions. Using neuroblastoma 2A cells as a model and Cl- influx as an index of GABA receptor activation, it will be shown that the benzodiazepines facilitates not only GABA binding but also its action on Cl- channels. Also, glioma C6 cells have high affinity receptors for GABA and ...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Trending Feeds

COVID-19

Coronaviruses encompass a large family of viruses that cause the common cold as well as more serious diseases, such as the ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19; formally known as 2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses can spread from animals to humans; symptoms include fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties; in more severe cases, infection can lead to death. This feed covers recent research on COVID-19.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis fungal infections spread through inhaling Blastomyces dermatitidis spores. Discover the latest research on blastomycosis fungal infections here.

Nuclear Pore Complex in ALS/FTD

Alterations in nucleocytoplasmic transport, controlled by the nuclear pore complex, may be involved in the pathomechanism underlying multiple neurodegenerative diseases including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Here is the latest research on the nuclear pore complex in ALS and FTD.

Applications of Molecular Barcoding

The concept of molecular barcoding is that each original DNA or RNA molecule is attached to a unique sequence barcode. Sequence reads having different barcodes represent different original molecules, while sequence reads having the same barcode are results of PCR duplication from one original molecule. Discover the latest research on molecular barcoding here.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Chronic fatigue syndrome is a disease characterized by unexplained disabling fatigue; the pathology of which is incompletely understood. Discover the latest research on chronic fatigue syndrome here.

Evolution of Pluripotency

Pluripotency refers to the ability of a cell to develop into three primary germ cell layers of the embryo. This feed focuses on the mechanisms that underlie the evolution of pluripotency. Here is the latest research.

Position Effect Variegation

Position Effect Variagation occurs when a gene is inactivated due to its positioning near heterochromatic regions within a chromosome. Discover the latest research on Position Effect Variagation here.

STING Receptor Agonists

Stimulator of IFN genes (STING) are a group of transmembrane proteins that are involved in the induction of type I interferon that is important in the innate immune response. The stimulation of STING has been an active area of research in the treatment of cancer and infectious diseases. Here is the latest research on STING receptor agonists.

Microbicide

Microbicides are products that can be applied to vaginal or rectal mucosal surfaces with the goal of preventing, or at least significantly reducing, the transmission of sexually transmitted infections. Here is the latest research on microbicides.