Characterization of two cerebellar binding sites of [3H]Ro 15-4513

Characterization of benzodiazepine receptors in the cerebellum

1. The goals of the work reported here were to further characterize benzodiazepine/GABA(A) (BDZR) receptor heterogeneity in the cerebellum and to measure the affinities and selectivities of structurally diverse benzodiazepines at each site identified. 2. Five chemical families were included in these studies. These were 1,4-benzodiazepines (flunitrazepam), imidazobenzodiazepines (RO15-1788 and RO15-4513 and RO16-6028), beta-carbolines (Abecarnil) and pyrazoloquinolines (CGS 8216, CGS 9895 and CGS 9896). 3. Saturation and competition binding assays were combined with powerful data analysis software developed in our laboratory. Among the capabilities of this software is the identification of multiple binding sites for a cold ligand using a non-selective labeled ligand that binds with equal, but high, affinity to all the binding sites 4. Saturation binding assays using either [3H]-RO15-1788 or [3H]-RO15-4513 revealed only one apparent binding site, with a higher affinity for RO15-4513 than for RO15-1788. However, using [3H]-RO15-4513 for the competition binding studies in the cerebellum, together with our data analysis software, led to the identification of two distinct binding sites with equal densities for the diverse benzodiazepines studied. 5. In rat cerebellum one of the sites identified corresponds to GABA(A) receptors exhibiting alpha1 subunit pharmacology and the other to GABA(A) receptors exhibiting alpha6 subunit pharmacology. In general, the diverse families of BDZR ligands studied had much lower affinities for the alpha6 containing receptors.

Unraveling the identity of benzodiazepine binding sites in rat hipppocampus and olfactory bulb

The goals of the work reported here were (i) to identify distinct GABA(A)/benzodiazepine receptors in the rat hippocampus and olfactory bulb using receptor binding assays, and (ii) to determine the affinities and selectivities of benzodiazepine receptor ligands from structurally diverse chemical families at each site identified. These studies were aided by the use of software AFFINITY ANALYSIS SYSTEM, developed in our laboratory for analysis of receptor binding data that allows the determination of receptor heterogeneity using non-selective radioligands. Saturation binding assays using [3H]RO15-4513 (ethyl 8-azido-6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo[1, 5-a]-[1,4]benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate) revealed two binding sites in each of these two tissues. The higher affinity site corresponds to alpha(5) subunit-containing GABA(A) receptor and the lower affinity site to a combination of alpha(1), alpha(2), and alpha(3) subunit-containing receptors. These results should be useful in the challenging task of identifying the various functional GABA(A) receptors in the central nervous system, and in providing a link between receptor affinities and in vivo activities of the GABA(A)/benzodiazepine receptor ligands studied.

Decreased expression of GABAA receptor alpha6 and beta3 subunits in stargazer mutant mice: a possible role for brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the regulation of cerebellar GABAA receptor expression?

The cerebellar granule cells of the spontaneous recessive mutant mouse strain, stargazer (stg/stg), fail to express brain-derived neurotrophic factor mRNA. This deficit is exclusive to these neurons and is believed to underlie the motor irregularities displayed by stg/stg, though the molecular basis for their phenotype has still to be resolved. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor has been shown to play a role in the postnatal maturation of cerebellar granule cells. Differentiation of these neurons, postnatally, is characterised by a switch in their GABAA receptor subunit expression profile. Notably, the GABAA receptor alpha6 subunit, which is specific to these neurons, becomes detectable at postnatal days 10-14 (P10-14). To determine whether cerebellar GABAA receptor expression has been compromised in stg/stg mice, the expression levels of GABAA receptor alpha1, alpha6, beta2 and beta3 subunits were compared between stg/stg mice and the appropriate wild-type background strain, C57BL/6J (+/+). By quantitative immunoblotting, it was found that the expression of the alpha6 and beta3 subunits was 23+/-8% and 38+/-12% (mean+/-S.E.M., n=6) of control (+/+) levels, respectively. In contrast, the expression of the alpha1 and beta2 subunits was not significantly different from controls, being 116+/-11% and 87+/-24% (mean+/-S.E.M., n=6) of +/+ levels, respectively. Total specific [3H]Ro15-4513 binding activity detected in cerebellar membranes prepared from stg/stg was not significantly different from +/+ mice. However, the benzodiazepine agonist-insensitive subtype of [3H]Ro15-4513 binding activity, a pharmacological motif of alpha6 subunit-containing GABAA receptors, was lower in stg/stg mice relative to the +/+ strain which correlated with the lowered level of alpha6 subunit expression. Thus, we have identified an abnormality in the GABAA receptor profile of stg/stg mutant mice that might underpin its irregular phenotype.

Diazepam-insensitive GABAA receptors in rat cerebellum and thalamus

Three major populations of GABAA receptor binding sites are present in cerebellar membranes: diazepam-sensitive [3H]Ro15-4513 binding sites, diazepam-insensitive [3H]Ro15-4513 binding sites and high-affinity [3H]muscimol binding sites. All three populations contain a beta subunit as shown by immunoprecipitation with antibodies that recognize all beta subunits. The beta 3 subtype of beta subunit is contained in all three populations, but only a similar low fraction (< 20%) in each. Thus, the majority contain beta subunits other than beta 3 (beta 2 and beta 1) and beta 3 subunits are not selectively associated with nor lacking in any of the three binding populations. Antibodies to the gamma 2 subunit precipitated similar fractions of [3H]Ro15-4513, [3H]flunitrazepam and [3H]muscimol binding sites, showing that gamma 2 subunits are present in high-affinity muscimol binding isoforms, as well as a significant fraction of the diazepam-insensitive [3H]Ro15-4513 binding sites. Under conditions that identify the 56 kDa alpha 6 subunit on SDS-PAGE as the diazepam insensitive site of [3H]Ro15-4513 binding in cerebellum, no polypeptide showing diazepam-insensitive binding of [3H]Ro15-4513 could be photoaffinity-labeled in rat thalamus. These results suggest that alpha 4 subunits in the thalamus participate primarily in subunit combinations which bind muscimol but not any benzodiazepine site ligands.

Mapping of GABAA receptor sites that are photoaffinity-labelled by [3H]flunitrazepam and [3H]Ro 15-4513

The GABAA receptor in brain membranes prepared from bovine cerebral cortex and cerebellum has been photoaffinity-labelled by the classical benzodiazepine agonist, [3H]flunitrazepam, or by the partial inverse agonist [3H]Ro 15-4513. Following solubilization and precipitation with trichloroacetic acid, the photoaffinity-labelled receptor preparations were subjected to specific chemical cleavage using hydroxylamine, a reagent which cleaves specifically at a relatively rare Asn-Gly bond. The resulting peptides were resolved by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and mapping of these peptides to the known amino acid sequences of the GABAA receptor subunits has localized the photoaffinity-labelling sites for these two ligands to distinct portions of the alpha subunits. It is shown that the site for [3H]flunitrazepam photoaffinity-labelling in the receptor populations of both the cerebral cortex and cerebellum occurs within residues 1-103 of the bovine alpha 1 subunit sequence (or within analogous segments of homologous alpha subunits). In contrast, the site of photoaffinity-labelling by [3H]Ro 15-4513 in the cerebral cortex and in the diazepam-sensitive GABAA receptor population of the cerebellum lies between residues 104 and the carboxy-terminus of the bovine alpha 1 or homologous alpha subunits. However, the [3H]Ro 15-4513 photoaffinity-labelling site for the diazepam-insensitive receptors of the cerebellum is shown to occur within residues 1-101 (alpha 6 subunit numbering). These results demonstrate that the photoaffinity-labelling sites for [3H]flunitrazepam and [3H]Ro 15-4513 on the GABAA receptor are localized to distinct domains of the alpha 1 subunit and that [3H]Ro 15-4513 photoaffinity labels a site on the alpha 6 subunit that is unique from its site of labelling on the alpha 1 subunit.

Immunocytochemical localization of the alpha 6 subunit of the gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptor in the rat nervous system

The localization in the rat central nervous system and retina of the alpha 6 subunit peptide of the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABAA) receptor has been studied by light microscopy immunocytochemistry with a specific anti-alpha 6 antibody. The alpha 6 subunit was present in the granule cells of the cerebellum, the granule cells of the dorsal cochlear nucleus, axons of the olfactory nerve including the glomerular endings, layer II of the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, and in the retinal synaptic layers, particularly the inner plexiform layer. Thus, contrary to the general belief, the alpha 6 subunit is not exclusively localized in the granule cells of the cerebellum. It is also expressed in some sensory neurons and other neurons involved in the initial processing of sensory information.

Brain GABAA receptors studied with subunit-specific antibodies

Brain GABAA/benzodiazepine receptors are highly heterogeneous. This heterogeneity is largely derived from the existence of many pentameric combinations of at least 16 different subunits that are differentially expressed in various brain regions and cell types. This molecular heterogeneity leads to binding differences for various ligands, such as GABA agonists and antagonists, benzodiazepine agonists, antagonists, and inverse agonists, steroids, barbiturates, ethanol, and Cl- channel blockers. Different subunit composition also leads to heterogeneity in the properties of the Cl- channel (such as conductance and open time); the allosteric interactions among subunits; and signal transduction efficacy between ligand binding and Cl- channel opening. The study of recombinant receptors expressed in heterologous systems has been very useful for understanding the functional roles of the different GABAA receptor subunits and the relationships between subunit composition, ligand binding, and Cl- channel properties. Nevertheless, little is known about the complete subunit composition of the native GABAA receptors expressed in various brain regions and cell types. Several laboratories, including ours, are using subunit-specific antibodies for dissecting the heterogeneity and subunit composition of native (no reconstituted) brain GABAA receptors and for revealing the cellular and subcellular distribution of these subunits in the nervous system. These studies are also aimed at understanding the ligand-binding, transduction mechanisms, and channel properties of the various brain GABAA receptors in relation to synaptic mechanisms and brain function. These studies could be relevant for the discovery and design of new drugs that are selective for some GABAA receptors and that have fewer side effects.

Quantitative characterization of alpha 6 and alpha 1 alpha 6 subunit-containing native gamma-aminobutyric acidA receptors of adult rat cerebellum demonstrates two alpha subunits per receptor oligomer

gamma-Aminobutyric acidA (GABAA) receptors were purified from adult rat cerebella by anti-alpha 6(1-16 Cys) antibody affinity chromatography. Immunoblots of the alpha 6 subunit-containing receptors showed the copurification of the alpha 1, beta 2/3, gamma 2, delta but not alpha 2 and alpha 3 GABAA receptor polypeptides. Further fractionation of this receptor subpopulation by anti-GABAA receptor subunit alpha 6(1-16 Cys) and anti-alpha 1(413-429) antibody affinity columns in series substantiated the coassociation of the alpha 1 and alpha 6 polypeptides. The percentage of coexistence of the two subunits was determined by quantitative immunoblotting, which found that 41 +/- 12% of alpha 6 subunit immunoreactivity is associated with the alpha 1 subunit. The ratios of the alpha 1:alpha 6 subunits in the double purified receptor preparations was found to be 1:1, thus determining directly for the first time subunit ratios within native GABAA receptors. The benzodiazepine pharmacology of the alpha 1 alpha 6 subunit-containing receptors was shown to be predominantly benzodiazepine-insensitive by quantitative immunoprecipitation assays. These results are the first direct quantitative studies of subunit ratios within a population of native GABAA receptors.

Stereospecific transduction of behavioral effects via diazepam-insensitive GABAA receptors

Previous studies reported a positive correlation between ligand affinities at diazepam-insensitive GABAA receptors and substitution for the discriminative stimulus effects of the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist, flumazenil, in pigeons. In the present experiments, bretazenil and Ro 14-5974 (ethyl-(S)-11,12,13,13 a-tetrahydro-9-oxo-9H-imidazo[1,5-a]-pyrrolo-[2,1-c] [1,4]benzodiazepine-1-carboxylate) partially substituted for, and blocked the discriminative stimulus effects of midazolam, congruent with their actions at diazepam-sensitive GABAA receptors in vitro. In addition, bretazenil and Ro 14-5974, but not their R-enantiomers, had high affinity for diazepam-insensitive receptors and fully substituted for the discriminative stimulus effects of flumazenil. The R-enantiomers of these compounds had low affinity (Ki > 1 microM) for diazepam-sensitive and diazepam-insensitive receptors, and did not share discriminative stimulus effects with flumazenil or midazolam. Ro 19-0528 (7-chloro-3-(3-cyclopropyl-1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)-4,5-dihydro-5-met hyl-6H- imidazo[1,5-a][1,4]benzodiazepin-6-one), a structurally related compound with full agonist actions at diazepam-sensitive GABAA receptors, had high diazepam-insensitive receptor affinity (Ki = 96 nM) and partially substituted for the discriminative stimulus effects of flumazenil. These results are consistent with stereospecific mediation of the discriminative stimulus effects of flumazenil through high affinity binding to diazepam-insensitive receptors in pigeons.

Astroglia-released factor shows similar effects as benzodiazepine inverse agonists

Media conditioned by cultured neonatal cerebral cortex microexplants (CCM) or astrocytes (ACM) contain low molecular weight (< 1,000 Da) substance(s) which inhibits the gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA)-induced inward current recorded in cerebellar granule cells and hippocampal neurons in culture using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. This effect is specific for CCM and ACM, as medium conditioned by PC12 cells (PC12CM) does not affect the GABA response of these cells. It is also specific for GABA-induced currents because glutamate-induced currents do not change either in amplitude or in shape in the presence of CCM or ACM. The inhibitory effect on the GABA response in cerebellar granule cells of both ACM and CCM could be suppressed by flumazenil, a specific benzodiazepine (BZD) antagonist and could be mimicked by two BZD inverse agonists. These data thus demonstrate the presence of a BZD inverse agonist-like activity in CCM and ACM. This effect of ACM on different neuronal cell types was heterogenous since no detectable effect could be observed on the GABA-induced current in GABA-responsive dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, presumably reflecting a functional heterogeneity of the GABAA receptors present in these different neuronal subsets. By the release of such an endogenous BZD inverse agonist-like activity, glia cells could possibly modulate GABAA receptor-mediated responses.

GABAA receptor subtypes expressed in cerebellar granule cells: a developmental study

The developmental properties of primary rat cerebellar granule cells have been characterised with respect to their expression of GABAA receptor subtypes using both an immunological approach and radioligand binding assays. At day 1 in culture, the GABAA receptor alpha 1 subunit was detectable in immunoblots and increased in level up to day 9. The GABAA receptor alpha 6 subunit was not detectable at day 1; however, at days 3-5, a specific M(r) 58,000 anti-alpha 6 1-16 Cys immunoreactive species was present which further increased in level up to 9 days in culture. Similar qualitative results were obtained for the expression of the GABAA receptor alpha 6 subunit in age-matched rat cerebellar membranes. In parallel studies, it was found that although there was an overall increase in [3H]Ro 15-4513 binding sites with days in culture, the relative contributions of diazepam-sensitive and diazepam-insensitive [3H]Ro 15-4513 binding changed. A time-dependent enrichment of the diazepam-insensitive binding site up to a maximum of 74% of total [3H]Ro 15-4513 sites was found. This was concomitant with the appearance of the GABAA receptor alpha 6 subunit. These results are in agreement with the pharmacology described for alpha 6 beta gamma 2 cloned receptors. They suggest a developmentally regulated expression of the GABAA receptor alpha 6 subunit gene at a time that is correlated in vivo with establishment of neuronal connections.

Characterization of diazepam-insensitive [3H]Ro 15-4513 binding in rodent brain and cultured cerebellar neuronal cells

Experiments were performed to characterize diazepam-insensitive [3H]Ro 15-4513 binding sites in discrete regions of rodent brain and cultured rat cerebellar granule cells. Scatchard analysis of [3H]Ro 15-4513 binding in the presence of 10 microM diazepam revealed that diazepam-insensitive binding sites in the rat brain were most abundant in the cerebellum, followed by the hippocampus, cerebral cortex and olfactory bulb. Diazepam-insensitive sites represented approximately 80% of the total [3H]Ro 15-4513 binding sites in the membranes of cultured rat cerebellar granule cells. The Bmax values for total [3H]Ro 15-4513 and [35S]TBPS are almost identical, and 5-6 times larger than that for [3H]diazepam in this preparation. Although some annelated [1,5-a]benzodiazepine analogues such as Ro 15-4513, ro 16-6028, flumazenil and Ro 15-3505, and an imidazothieno-diazepine, Ro 19-4603, showed high affinity for cortical and cerebellar diazepam-insensitive sites, all the annelated benzodiazepine compounds tested showed higher affinity for cerebellar diazepam-insensitive sites than cortical ones. In contrast, a pyrazoloquinoline compound, CGS 8216, and beta-carboline analogues such as beta-carboline-3-carboxylate ethyl ester (beta-CCE) and beta-carboline-3-carboxylate methyl ester (beta-CCM) exhibited higher affinity for cortical than cerebellar sites. These results suggest that diazepam-insensitive sites are heterogeneous in brain areas with respect to ligand specificity.

Labelling of diazepam-sensitive and -insensitive benzodiazepine receptors with [3H]tert-butyl-8-chloro-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo [1,5-a][1,4]benzodiazepine 3-carboxylate (ZG-63)

A diazepam-insensitive subtype of benzodiazepine receptor has been identified in the cerebella of several species, including man. t-Butyl-8-chloro-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo[1,5-a][1,4] benzodiazepine 3-carboxylate (ZG-63) was recently described as a selective, high affinity ligand at diazepam-insensitive benzodiazepine receptors. This compound was tritiated, and its properties as a radioligand evaluated in rat brain membranes. Consistent with the high affinity and selectivity described for the non-radioactive form of this compound, saturation analyses of [3H]ZG-63 binding to cerebellar diazepam-insensitive and other, diazepam-sensitive benzodiazepine receptors revealed Kd values of 2.6 +/- 0.2 nM and 10.6 +/- 1.4 nM, respectively. The density (Bmax) of cerebellar diazepam-insensitive receptors labelled with [3H]ZG-63 was not significantly different from values obtained with the prototypical diazepam-insensitive receptor ligand [3H]Ro 15-4513, representing approximately 30% of total cerebellar benzodiazepine receptors. [3H]ZG-63 also labelled cortical diazepam-sensitive benzodiazepine receptors, with Bmax values that were not significantly different from those obtained with [3H]flunitrazepam. Diazepam-insensitive benzodiazepine receptors in rat cerebral cortex could be detected with [3H]ZG-63, but the densities of these sites are a very minor component (< or = 5%) of total benzodiazepine receptors. In the presence of GABA, [3H]ZG-63 behaved as a 'gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) -positive', 'GABA-negative', and 'GABA-neutral' ligand at cortical diazepam-sensitive receptors, cerebellar diazepam-sensitive receptors, and cerebellar diazepam-insensitive benzodiazepine receptors, respectively. This profile differs from the prototype diazepam-insensitive receptor ligand, [3H]Ro 15-4513. Competition studies demonstrated a very high correlation (r2 = 0.98; P < 0.002) between the potencies of a series of benzodiazepine receptor ligands to inhibit [3H]ZG-63 and [3H]Ro 15-4513 binding to cerebellar diazepam-insensitive receptors. The high affinity and selectivity of [3H]ZG-63 for diazepam-insensitive receptors (diazepam-insensitive/diazepam-sensitive ratio of approximately 0.25) together with a GABA-shift profile which differs from Ro 15-4513 suggests that this compound may be useful in elucidating the function(s) of this benzodiazepine receptor subtype.

Postnatal development of diazepam-insensitive [3H]Ro 15-4513 binding sites

The postnatal development of the binding sites for an imidazobenzodiazepine, [3H]Ro 15-4513, which labels all presently known GABAA receptor-associated benzodiazepine binding sites, was studied in the cerebellar, cerebrocortical and hippocampal tissues of Wistar rats. The binding sites in the hippocampal membranes were fairly similar at all ages studied (1-2, 7, 14, and 90 days), suggesting early development of the GABAA receptors. The density of the binding sites increased significantly with age in the cerebellar and cerebrocortical membranes, without any changes in the affinity for this ligand. As judged by displacement by a benzodiazepine agonist, diazepam, [3H]Ro 15-4513 seemed to bind to a homogeneous pool of receptors in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus in all age groups, whereas in the cerebellum two pharmacologically distinct sites were observed. The benzodiazepine agonist-insensitive ("diazepam-insensitive") binding first appeared at the time when the cerebellar granule cells started to mature, on the seventh postnatal day. As determined by autoradiography, such binding occurred selectively in the granule cell layer and was absent from the cerebellum of one- to two-day-old rats. The latter finding was confirmed by photoaffinity labelling experiments, in which diazepam inhibited all photolabelling in membrane homogenates from newborn rats. Diazepam-sensitive cerebellar binding, which increased steadily during development, was also localized in the molecular layer and deep nuclei.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of diethyl pyrocarbonate modification of benzodiazepine receptors on [3H]Ro 15-4513 binding

The effects of treatment of brain membranes with diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEP), a histidine-modifying reagent, on the binding of 3H-labeled Ro 15-4513 (ethyl-8-azido-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo[1,5-a]- [1,4]benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate) and [3H]diazepam were compared. DEP pretreatment produced a dose-dependent decrease in [3H]diazepam binding, whereas low DEP concentrations enhanced the binding of [3H]Ro 15-4513. These effects were reversed by incubation with hydroxylamine after the treatment. The enhancement of [3H]Ro 15-4513 binding was due to an increase in the affinity of the binding sites (KD), without any effect on binding capacity (Bmax). The enhancement was perceived in cerebral cortical, cerebellar, and hippocampal membranes. DEP treatment decreased the displacement of [3H]Ro 15-4513 binding by diazepam and FG 7142 (N-methyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxamide) but not by Ro 15-4513 and Ro 19-4603 (tert-butyl-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazol[1,5- a]thieno[2,3-f][1,4]diazepine-3-carboxylate). Although the stimulating effect of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) on [3H]-diazepam binding was not affected by DEP treatment, such treatment reduced the inhibitory effect of GABA on [3H]Ro 15-4513 binding. The enhancement of [3H]Ro 15-4513 binding was observed in membranes pretreated with DEP in the presence of flunitrazepam, whereas such pretreatment reduced significantly the inhibitory effect of DEP on [3H]-diazepam binding.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)