Benzodiazepine pharmacology of cultured mammalian CNS neurons

Many neurons cultured from the embryonic mammalian central nervous system (CNS) express benzodiazepine receptors while some neurons differentiate specific transmitter phenotypes like glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), the synthetic enzyme for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). The benzodiazepine receptors in these cultured neurons are often, if not always coupled to a practically ubiquitous GABA-mediated function, activation of Cl- ion conductance. The transmitter signal serves to inhibit neuronal excitability and is facilitated by clinically important benzodiazepines. Here we review some details regarding the pharmacological actions of benzodiazepines on membrane excitability.