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Brain Specific Benzodiazepine Receptors

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Claus Bræstrup  and
Richard F. Squires
Claus Bræstrup
Affiliation:
Psychopharmacological Research Laboratory, Sct. Hans Mental Hospital, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
Richard F. Squires
Affiliation:
Biochemical Department, A/S Ferrosan, 2860 Soeborg, Denmark
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Summary

Brain membranes from rat and human contain a single class of brain specific binding sites for pharmacologically and clinically active benzodiazepines. There is good correlation between the pharmacological effects of benzodiazepines and the affinity for the 3H-diazepam binding site.

Benzodiazepine binding sites are not present on glial cells. Selective neuronal degeneration experiments in rats indicate a neuronal localization. 3H-Flunitrazepam is a very suitable ligand for affinity binding and it binds to the same class of binding sites as 3H-diazepam.

Our results indicate that the in vitro3H-diazepam and 3H-flunitrazepam binding sites are the receptors which in vivo mediate various pharmacological and clinical effects of benzodiazepines.

Type
Research Article
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 133 , Issue 3 , September 1978 , pp. 249 - 260
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1978 

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