Kindling-induced changes of [3H]GTP binding in the cerebral cortical membrane

Specific [3H]GTP binding to the cerebral cortical membrane was examined in amygdaloid kindled rats. Membrane fractions of the cerebral cortex obtained from kindled rats and sham operated control were incubated with [3H]GTP and the data were analyzed by Scatchard plots. There were no differences in the Bmax and Kd values in basal (without any agonists) binding between kindled and control membranes. In the presence of isoprenaline, beta-agonist, Bmax values increased in the control, but did not increase in the kindled group. The kindling-induced abolishment of isoprenaline effect on Bmax of GTP binding persisted at least two weeks. Specific GTP binding activity of control membrane increased in the presence of carbachol, muscarinic agonist. A carbachol-induced increase in specific GTP binding activity also disappeared in the kindled group. These results suggest that a functional imbalance among various types of GTP binding proteins (Gs, Gi or Go) might be related to the acquisition of the epileptogenesis in the kindling model of epilepsy.