γ-Aminobutyric Acid: Temperature Dependence in Benzodiazepine Receptor Binding

The effects of muscimol and/or incubation temperature on the inhibition of 3H]flunitrazepam receptor binding by benzodiazepine receptor ligands were investigated. At 0 degree C muscimol decreased the Ki values for some ligands as displacers of 3H]flunitrazepam binding to brain-specific sites while increasing or having no effect on the Ki values for other ligands. The Ki values for some ligands are higher at 37 degrees C than at 0 degree C but are reduced by muscimol at both 0 degrees and 37 degrees C. In contrast, the ligands whose Ki values are increased by muscimol either decreased or did not alter the Ki values at 37 degrees C as compared to those at 0 degree C. Incubation of membranes at 37 degrees C for 30 min accelerated gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release by 221% over that at 0 degree C. These results indicate that changes in incubation temperature alter benzodiazepine receptor affinity for ligands via GABA.