Differentiation of activities within the GABAA-chloride ionophore complex by means of 35-S-TBPS binding

From the above results, it is evident that both alpidem and zolpidem modulate the GABAA receptor linked chloride ionophore in an allosteric manner via omega 1 anxiolytic/hypnotic recognition sites. As both are highly specific for the omega 1 site, with little affinity for the omega 2 site, it appears that omega 1 site activation is sufficient to fully engage the various linkages within the GABAA receptor supramolecular complex, resulting in modulation of the chloride ionophore. This action is related to an enhanced affinity of the recognition site for TBPS. Under the present conditions (high sodium chloride, frozen well-washed membranes), several (but not all, e.g. zolpidem) anxiolytics and hypnotics decreased TBPS binding at very high (100-500 microM) concentrations. This effect is unlikely related to the pharmacological activity of these compounds, as it is insensitive to flumazenil and occurs only at concentrations which would be supra-toxic. In contrast, the enhancement of TBPS binding by these anxiolytics and hypnotics occurs within the range of, and correlates with, their therapeutic plasma levels and their affinity for omega 1/omega 2 receptors. The present findings suggest that a different degree of linkage for different compounds occurs between the GABAA receptor and the omega 1/omega 2 receptor mediated enhancement of TBPS binding, as the action of alpidem is completely reversed by bicuculline, whereas for zopidem and flunitrazepam a component of the TBPS enhancement is bicuculline insensitive. A Ro 5-4864 sensitive site (probably not the omega 3 site) occurs with the GABAA receptor supramolecular complex, which apparently participates in the enhancement of TBPS binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)