The effects of a single convulsive dose of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ, 45 mg/kg i.p.) on rat brain gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA) receptors were studied. Selected GABAA receptor subunit mRNAs were measured by Northern blot analysis (with beta-actin mRNA as a standard). Four hours after PTZ, the GABAA receptor gamma2-mRNA was decreased in hippocampus, cerebral cortex, and cerebellum; alpha1-...

Sir,—We read with interest the study by Takada and colleagues [1] on the effects of midazolam and flunitrazepam on the release of dopamine from rat striatum. Recently, we postulated that benzodiazepines may reduce the synthesis, release and postsynaptic effect of dopamine centrally [2]. This action at the chemoreccptor trigger zone is a possible mechanism for the antiemetic effect of benzodiaze...

Sir,—We read with interest the study by Takada and colleagues [1] on the effects of midazolam and flunitrazepam on the release of dopamine from rat striatum. Recently, we postulated that benzodiazepines may reduce the synthesis, release and postsynaptic effect of dopamine centrally [2]. This action at the chemoreccptor trigger zone is a possible mechanism for the antiemetic effect of benzodiaze...

The present study examined the involvement of the GABAA, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA), nicotinic acetylcholine, and mu-opioid receptor systems in the transduction of the discriminative stimulus effects of the abused inhalant 1,1,1-trichloroethane (TCE). Sixteen B6SJLF1/J mice were trained to discriminate 10 min of exposure to 12,000-ppm inhaled TCE vapor from air. Substitution and antagonism tes...

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and conventional antisera were raised to the affinity-purified GABAA receptor/benzodiazepine receptor/Cl- channel complex. The antibodies immunoprecipitated the affinity-purified complex in Triton X-100 and also reacted with the complex in a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. Immunoblots indicated that the mAb 62-3G1 reacted with the 57,000 Mr peptide subunit of the affi...

Rearing is an exploratory behavior induced by novelty, such as exposure to an open field. Stimulation of certain brain regions, including the hippocampus, induces both rearing and clonic convulsions. Brain excitability is controlled by gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) inhibitory neurotransmission through its ionotropic GABAA/allosteric benzodiazepine site. Drugs that decrease GABAA receptor fast ...