Localization of two neurotropic molecules in cultured glial cells by ion microscopy]

The intracellular localization of two families of neurotropic drugs: flunitrazepam and flurazepam (benzodiazepine), triflupromazine and trifluoperazine (phenothiazine) has been studied by ion microscopy. The molecules have been incubated with C6 glioblastoma cells from rat origin and with astroglial primary cultures. The images of the intracellular distributions of the two drugs are easily obtained by selecting the fluorine atom of the molecules. The images obtained show that flunitrazepam and flurazepam, two drugs of the benzodiazepine group are mainly located to the nuclei, whereas triflupromazine and trifluoperazine, two phenothiazines are exclusively located inside the cytoplasm.