Brain Specific Benzodiazepine Receptors

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Abstract
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.