Genetic difference in sensitivity to beta-carboline: evidence for the involvement of brain benzodiazepine receptors

Brain Res. 1991 Jul 12;553(2):342-6. doi: 10.1016/0006-8993(91)90847-o.

Abstract

The convulsive effects of methyl beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta-CCM), a benzodiazepine receptor ligand, are different in two inbred strains of mice: BALB/cBy mice are more sensitive to beta-CCM than C57BL/6J mice. In the present article, we report the effects of [3H]flunitrazepam binding in these two strains, which suggest a possible explanation of the differences in their sensitivity to beta-CCM by the involvement of brain benzodiazepine receptors.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Brain / metabolism*
  • Carbolines / pharmacology*
  • Clonazepam / pharmacology
  • Convulsants / pharmacology*
  • Flunitrazepam / metabolism*
  • Kinetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Receptors, GABA-A / drug effects
  • Receptors, GABA-A / metabolism*
  • Seizures / physiopathology
  • Species Specificity
  • Strychnine / toxicity

Substances

  • Carbolines
  • Convulsants
  • Receptors, GABA-A
  • 1-methyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid
  • Clonazepam
  • Flunitrazepam
  • Strychnine
  • beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester