Inhibition of GABA and benzodiazepine receptor binding by penicillins.

Penicillins are thought to be GABA receptor antagonists. In order to determine the affinities of various penicillin derivatives for the GABA receptor, their potencies as inhibitors of specific [3H]GABA binding to rat brain membranes were investigated. All investigated penicillins inhibit specific [3H]GABA binding, with IC50 values ranging from 2 to 60 mM. The results are consistent with the assumption that penicillins are weak GABA receptor antagonists.