PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Iadarola, M J
AU  - Fanelli, R J
AU  - McNamara, J O
AU  - Wilson, W A
TI  - Comparison of the effects of diphenylbarbituric acid, phenobarbital, pentobarbital and secobarbital on GABA-mediated inhibition and benzodiazepine binding.
DP  - 1985 Jan 01
TA  - Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
PG  - 127--133
VI  - 232
IP  - 1
4099  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/232/1/127.short
4100  - http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/232/1/127.full
SO  - J Pharmacol Exp Ther1985 Jan 01; 232
AB  - We utilized biochemical and electrophysiological methods to compare the effects of anesthetic and anticonvulsant barbiturates on gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor-coupled responses. Biochemical analysis involved barbiturate regulation of the affinity of a radiolabeled benzodiazepine for benzodiazepine receptors. The electrophysiological method involved regulation of somatic recurrent inhibition of CA1 pyramidal cells in the hippocampal slice preparation. We found that anesthetic (secobarbital and pentobarbital) but not anticonvulsant (phenobarbital and diphenylbarbituric acid) barbiturates significantly enhanced GABA receptor-coupled responses in both the biochemical and electrophysiological preparations. The results indicate that the anticonvulsant actions of barbiturates may not depend on their ability to enhance GABAergic neuronal activity.