RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Binding of a radiolabeled triazolopyridazine to a subtype of benzodiazepine receptor in the rat cerebellum. JF Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics JO J Pharmacol Exp Ther FD American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics SP 670 OP 675 VO 221 IS 3 A1 Niehoff, D L A1 Mashal, R D A1 Horst, W D A1 O'Brien, R A A1 Palacios, J M A1 Kuhar, M J YR 1982 UL http://jpet.aspetjournals.org/content/221/3/670.abstract AB The triazolopyridazine (TPZ) drugs, typified by CL218,872 (CL), have a relatively higher affinity for a subpopulation of benzodiazepine (BZ) receptors. The binding of radiolabeled CL to membranes from rat cerebellum, a region enriched in the TPZ-preferring ("Type 1") BZ receptor, was characterized and compared with that of [3H]flunitrazepam ([3H]FLU) in the same preparation. [3H]CL had clonazepam displaceable binding which was saturable. The Kd was approximately 21 nM and the Bmax was approximately 600 fmol/mg of protein. [3H]CL binding was similar to that for [3H]FLU in that exogenous gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) enhanced the binding; however, [3H]CL binding differed from that for [3H]FLU in that anions, cartazolate and pentobarbital did not enhance [3H]CL binding. These data suggest that [3H]CL binds to the Type 1 BZ receptor in a manner different from that of a BZ drug such as FLU. Inasmuch as GABA enhances [3H]CL binding, but anions, cartazolate and pentobarbital do not, [3H]CL may bind to the Type 1 BZ receptor in such a way that it interacts with the GABA site, but perhaps not directly with the ionophore or the postulated pyrazolopyridine-barbiturate site. Thus, TPZ drugs may affect the GABA receptor complex in a different or perhaps less extensive way than the BZs. This, in addition to the regional localization of the Type 1 receptor, may be an important part of the mechanism of action of the TPZs.