Stress-related changes of benzodiazepine binding inhibitory activity (B.B.I.A.) in humans

Involvement of endogenous benzodiazepine receptor ligands in brain disorders: therapeutic potential for benzodiazepine antagonists?

Many therapeutic effects of benzodiazepines are mediated by neuronal high-affinity binding sites, i.e. benzodiazepine receptors (BR), located on GABAA receptors. Recently, endogenous BR ligands have partially been identified which, as agonists, either increase or, as inverse agonists, decrease GABAergic inhibition in the brain. BR antagonists, previously described as intrinsically inactive, induce effects in animals and humans under particular circumstances emphasizing a functional relevance of endogenous BR ligands. Several brain disorders, e.g. anxiety, insomnia, epilepsy, spasticity, alcoholism, coma, dementia, may be associated with a disequilibrium of opposing endogenous BR ligands changing the excitability of neurons implicated in aforementioned diseases. It is proposed that, depending on the relative role endogenous BR ligands play in the pathophysiology of these disorders, BR antagonists might demonstrate a variable efficacy in improving their symptomatology. In fact, such therapy would restore the homeostatic balance among various endogenous BR ligands being disturbed during an illness.

Psychological stress and body temperature changes in humans

We investigated the possible changes in body temperature, heart frequency, and blood pressure in 22 residents sitting for the yearly exam at the Specialty School of Psychiatry at Pisa University. All subjects were then evaluated 2 or 3 weeks later, in calm situations. In a subgroup, a specific plasmatic diazepam binding inhibitor (BBIA), previously described, was also measured. The results showed that all subjects underwent significant stress-related changes in the parameters studied, which suggest the involvement of different mechanisms in preexam stress.