Enhancement of 3H-phenytoin binding by diazepam and (+)bicuculline

3H-Phenytoin binding to the particulate fraction of rat wholebrain homogenate was studied using the filter assay technique. It was found that diazepam and (+)bicuculline methobromide caused a concentration-dependent enhancement of the total binding of 3H-phenytoin, whereas GABA and (-)bicuculline methobromide (the inactive bicuculline isomer) had no effect. In subsequent competition experiments (labelled versus unlabelled phenytoin), it was found that the presence of a potentiating concentration of diazepam transformed the biphasic phenytoin competition isotherm into a simple curve with a Hill coefficient of approximately one, and a Ki of 110 nM.