Purification of endogenous inhibitors of [3H]flunitrazepam binding from bovine brain

Abstract

Endogenous substances which inhibited the binding of [3H]flunitrazepam ([3H]FNZ) to bovine synaptosomal membranes have been purified from the hot acetic acid extracts of the bovine brain. Three peaks of inhibitory activity were obtained by Sephadex G-10 gel chromatography. Two of the peaks (Peak 2, and Peak 3) which had lower molecular weights than that of peak 1 were identified as inosine and hypoxanthine by TLC methods. Another peak (Peak 1) was further purified to homogeneity using both cation and anion ion-exchange chromatography and the following two-step reversed-phase HPLC. The purified substance inhibited the [3H]FNZ binding dose-dependently and competitively but did not have an effect on the binding of the peripheral-type BZ ligand [3H]Ro 5-4864. It was also shown that the substance was heat-stable and resistant to proteolytic degradation (trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin, pronase). However, a significant loss of inhibitory activity to [3H]FNZ binding was observed after acid hydrolysis. Molecular weight estimates based on gel filtration methods were less than 500 dalton, and the maximal ultraviolet absorption peak was at 314 nm. These results suggest that this substance is a new endogenous ligand for the central BZ receptor and may play an important role in regulating the GABAergic tone in the central nervous system.

Protective Effects of Some Creatine Derivatives in Brain Tissue Anoxia

“…The fact that only phosphocreatine-Mg-complex (acetate) was able to decrease this epileptic-like manifestation may indicate a different mechanism of action. Creatine binds to the benzodiazepine receptor [46], and one of us showed that high-dose creatine is able to slightly reduce population spike amplitude in brain slices [47]. Moreover, guanidino compounds (as creatine is) are known to interact with the GABA receptor [48].…”

Χορήγηση Της Κρεατίνης Ως Επικουρικής Θεραπείας Στην Κετογονική Δίαιτα Σε Παιδιά Και Εφήβους Με Ανθεκτική Επιληψία

“…Αυτή η υψηλή συγκέντρωση της κρεατίνης είχε κατασταλτικό αποτέλεσμα στην νευροδιεγερσιμότητα του εγκεφαλικού ιστού, που αναφέρθηκε για πρώτη φορά στην βιβλιογραφία [95]. Η κρεατίνη δεσμεύεται σε κάποιον βαθμό στον κεντρικό υποδοχέα των βενζοδιαζεπινών και ίσως αυτή η αλληλεπίδραση να παίζει κάποιο ρόλο στην κατασταλτική δράση της κρεατίνης σε υψηλές συγκεντρώσεις, αν και χρειάζεται περαιτέρω έρευνα για την εξήγηση της δράσης αυτής [96]. Η πρόληψη της μεταανοξικής υπερδιεγερσιμότητας του εγκεφάλου, με την υψηλή συγκέντρωση κρεατίνης μπορεί να εξηγηθεί μόνο εν μέρει από την άμεση κατασταλτική δράση της.…”