Binding studies in the Lurcher mutant suggest an uneven distribution of putative benzodiazepine receptor subclasses in the mouse cerebellum.

Binding studies using [3H]flunitrazepam in the cerebellum of normal and Lurcher mutant mice indicate that about 90% of the total benzodiazepine receptor population reside on the Purkinje and granule cells. Moreover, the specific binding of the BZ1 receptor subclass specific ligand [3H]propyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate suggests that neuronal elements of the mouse cerebellum other than the Purkinje and granule cells contain about 18% of the BZ1 receptors but only about 7% of the BZ2 receptors of the mouse cerebellum.