[Assessment of anxiolytics (3)--biochemical approach]

Synaptoneurosomes are entities in which a presynaptic sac (synaptosome) is attached to a resealed postsynaptic vesicle (neurosome). Biochemical studies have demonstrated that the synaptoneurosomes retain several receptor-mediated activities such as accumulations of cyclic AMP and ion fluxes. GABAA receptor-mediated 36Cl- uptake and modulatory effects of the uptake by benzodiazepines, barbiturates and neurosteroids have been reported in rat brain synaptoneurosomes. The in vitro protocol of the GABAA receptor ligand-stimulated 36Cl- influx proves to be of value for the screening of new compounds such as anxiolytics.