Benzodiazepine receptor: Heterogeneity in rabbit brain

Abstract

Binding characteristics of benzodiazepine receptors were studied with synaptosomal and microsomal membranes from rabbit brain in vitro utilizing [methyl- 3H]diazepam. In synaptosomal membranes, both high and low affinity binding sites were identified with the dissociation constants (K d) of 4.92 nM and 83.8 nM, respectively. However, only the high affinity site was identified with K d of 3.96 nM with microsomal membranes. Benzodiazepine binding sites appear to include at least two subpopulations of receptors, one with high affinity and another with low affinity binding site.