Diazepam enhancement of low affinity GABA binding to rat brain membranes

Diazepam (3 nM-3 microM) enhanced GABA binding to well-washed synaptosomal membranes in a concentration-dependent manner. Half maximal enhancement occurred at 20 nM diazepam. Kinetic analysis by non-linear Scatchard analysis revealed that the primary action of diazepam was to increase the affinity of GABA binding to a low affinity site. These results support electrophysiological and other biochemical observations of benzodiazepine-GABA interactions.