γ‐Aminobutyric Acid Receptor Ionophore Complexes: Differential Effects of Deltamethrin, Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, and Some Novel Insecticides in a Rat Brain Membrane Preparation

Abstract
The binding of [35S]t-butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([35S]TBPS), a .gamma.-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-activated chloride ionophore ligand; [3H]diazepam, a benzodiazepine agonist; and [3H]muscimol, a GABA receptor probe, were used to assess the effects of 100 .mu.M of deltamethrin, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), and three experimental insecticides .sbd.a DDT-pyrethroid hybrid, GH414 (cycloprothrin), and two DDT-analogues, GH266, and GH149 (EDO), on GABA receptor ionophore complexes in a rat brain membrane preparation. GH266 and GH149 were found to inhibit a greater percentage of [35S]TBPS binding than the same concentration of deltamethrin or DDT, although GH414 had little effect. GH266 and GH149 enhanced [3H]diazepam binding by nearly 200%, in contrast to the inhibitory effects of deltamethrin, DDT, and GH414, GH266 and GH149 also caused a dramatic enhancement of [3H]muscimol binding, 367 and 236% of control, respectively, whereas DDT and deltamethrin caused only a moderate enhancement. The effects of the insecticides on binding affinity and density were examined for each of the ligands. The results show a differential interaction of the insecticides on the various ligand binding sites.