Presence of peripheral-type benzodiazepine binding sites on human erythrocyte membranes

Central and peripheral benzodiazepine receptors: involvement in an organism's response to physical and psychological stress

The present review discusses the current knowledge of the molecular pharmacology and neuroanatomical and subcellular localization of both the central benzodiazepine/GABA-chloride ionophore receptor complex and the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor. It then reviews all of the literature to date on how these two receptor sites are modulated by environmental stress. The possible role of these sites in learning and memory is also discussed. Finally, a theoretical model is presented which examines the differential, and perhaps complementary, alterations of these two sites in an organism's response to stress.

Influence of diazepam, alpidem, zolpidem and zopiclone, on the response to adenosine of the guinea pig isolated trachea

It has been reported that dipyridamole and some benzodiazepines potentiate the responses to adenosine in peripheral organs and in particular in the guinea pig isolated atria or trachea by inhibition of adenosine uptake and/or metabolism. In this study, we have examined the sensitization of guinea pig isolated trachea to relaxant responses to adenosine produced by dipyridamole, diazepam and 3 compounds chemically unrelated to benzodiazepines but which display selective agonistic activity towards the central (zolpidem and zopiclone) or peripheral (alpidem) type benzodiazpine receptors. In preparations under spontaneous tone and in the absence of adenosine, dipyridamole (10(-5) M) and diazepam (10(-5)-10(-4) M), alpidem (3 x 10(-6) M-10(-5) M) and zopiclone (10(-6)-10(-4) M) induced a relaxation of the airway smooth muscle. In addition, dazepam (10(-4) M) attenuated the phasic response to histamine (10(-5) M). Dipyridamole (10(-5) M) and diazepam (10(-4) M) respectively produced a 56.2 and 32.4-fold potentiation of adenosine relaxant effects. Alpidem (10(-6)-10(-5) M), zolpidem (10(-6)-10(-4) M) and zopiclone (10(-6)-10(-4) M) were without any significant effect on the adenosine concentration-response curves. Moreover, alpidem, zolpidem, and zopiclone did not modify the 2-chloroadenosine dose-response curves nor the diazepam induced sensitization of adenosine-induced relaxation. In conclusion, adenosine sensitization of the guinea pig isolated trachea caused by diazepam might involve a peripheral benzodiazpine receptor subtype coupled to a nucleoside transporter system which is different from those recognized by compounds derived from the imidazopyridine series.

Peripheral benzodiazepines potentiate the effect of adenosine in rat vas deferens

Ro 5-4864, diazepam, clonazepam and PK 11195 inhibit the responses of rat was deferens following electrical stimulation in the rank order Ro 5-4864 greater than PK 11195 = diazepam greater than clonazepam. The adenosine-inhibited electrically-induced response was potentiated by Ro 5-4864 or diazepam, but not by clonazepam or PK 11195. This potentiation is due to an inhibition of the adenosine uptake system.

Presence of peripheral benzodiazepine binding sites on primary rat skeletal fibroblasts

Employing [3H]Ro5-4864 as a radioligand, the existence of peripheral benzodiazepine binding sites in rat hind limb skeletal fibroblasts was explored. Saturable, high affinity binding of this ligand is described for fibroblasts and cell membrane preparations, demonstrating a pharmacological profile characteristic for such receptors. The binding of [3H]Ro5-4864 exhibited higher affinity and density in fibroblasts compared to membrane preparations. A quaternaryamine derivative of PK 11195 showed a similar potency as a displacer of [3H]Ro5-4864 in both preparations. The data suggest that peripheral benzodiazepine receptors are present in the plasma membrane of primary mammalian fibroblasts.

Molecular mechanisms of peripheral benzodiazepine receptors

Peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors were identified initially as binding sites in peripheral tissues with markedly different drug specificity than the central type receptors. The density of peripheral receptors varies greatly among tissues with selective localization within organs. Steroid producing areas of glands, such as the adrenal, testes and ovary, are highly enriched in these receptors. Intracellular localizations provide further insight into function with peripheral receptors largely if not exclusively associated with outer membranes of mitochondria. Purification of the peripheral receptor protein from rat kidney mitochondria reveals two apparent subunits with molecular weights of about 30 and 18 kD respectively. This complex is functionally intact as determined by its ability to reversibly bind PK-11195, Ro5-4864, and PK-14105 with high affinity and specificity.

[3H]AHN 086 acylates peripheral benzodiazepine receptors in the rat pineal gland

AHN 086, an isothiocyanato derivative of Ro 5-4864 (4'-chlorodiazepam), inhibits radioligand binding to peripheral benzodiazepine receptors with characteristics of an irreversible (acylating) ligand. We now report that [3H]AHN 086 labels a approximately 30 kDa protein in the rat pineal gland determined by both SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and gel filtration high-performance liquid chromatography of digitonin-solubilized membranes. Specific incorporation of [3H]AHN 086 into this protein was inhibited by preincubating membranes with excess AHN 086. Moreover, significant specific binding of [3H]AHN 086 was not observed in either bovine pineal gland (which does not possess high-affinity binding sites for Ro 5-4864) or ovalbumin. These findings suggest that the approximately 30 kDa protein labeled by [3H]AHN 086 in rat pineal gland is associated with peripheral benzodiazepine receptors in this tissue.