0000000000600111
AUTHOR
Adam Antoniadis
Inhibition of GABA and benzodiazepine receptor binding by penicillins.
Penicillins are thought to be GABA receptor antagonists. In order to determine the affinities of various penicillin derivatives for the GABA receptor, their potencies as inhibitors of specific [3H]GABA binding to rat brain membranes were investigated. All investigated penicillins inhibit specific [3H]GABA binding, with IC50 values ranging from 2 to 60 mM. The results are consistent with the assumption that penicillins are weak GABA receptor antagonists.
Benzodiazepine receptor interactions may be involved in the neurotoxicity of various penicillin derivatives
The interaction of seven penicillin derivatives with specific [3H]flunitrazepam binding to benzodiazepine receptors was investigated. The affinities of the penicillins for benzodiazepine receptor seemed to depend on the lipophilia of the derivatives. The concentrations of the penicillins which inhibit specific [3H]flunitrazepam binding are consistent with penicillin levels found in the central nervous system of patients developing penicillin induced convulsions. The results suggest that penicillins inhibit GABAergic transmission not only at the GABA receptor, but also at the benzodiazepine receptor, which is thought to be part of a neuronal system facilitating GABAergic transmission. Both m…