Functional coupling of GABAA receptors and benzodiazepine recognition site subtypes in the spinal cord of the rat.

The interaction between GABAA receptors and benzodiazepine (BZD) recognition site subtypes in the spinal cord of the rat was investigated. Computer analysis of displacement curves for [3H]flunitrazepam [( 3H]FNT) binding by 2-oxo-quazepam (2OXOQ) indicated the presence of two subtypes of BZD recognition sites in this region. Type I sites accounted for approximately 25% of the total number of BZD recognition sites, the remainder being Type II sites. A similar proportion of Type I and Type II sites was obtained by Scatchard analysis of the saturation curves for [3H]FNT, [3H]2OXOQ and [3H]ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate [( 3H]beta CCE) binding. The in vitro addition of GABA (10(-8)-10(-4) M) to spinal cord membrane preparations produced an increase in the binding of [3H]FNT and [3H]2OXOQ. The maximal enhancement produced by GABA was 50 and 82% above control values for [3H]FNT and [3H]2OXOQ, respectively. In contrast, GABA stimulated both [3H]FNT and [3H]2OXOQ binding in the cerebellum to a similar extent. We also evaluated the effects of different ligands for BZD recognition sites on the binding of [3H]GABA to spinal cord membranes, as compared with brain areas containing a higher proportion ( greater than 30%) of Type I sites. Diazepam, quazepam and the beta-carboline, ZK 93423, enhanced the specific binding of [3H]GABA in a concentration-dependent manner (10(-7)-10(-5) M) in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus but not in the spinal cord and cerebellum. These results indicate that there is a regional variation in the interaction between GABA and BZD recognition sites in the central nervous system.