Isolation and characterization of endogenous modulators for GABA system.

Pig brain extracts from both soluble and membrane fractions were found to contain potent inhibitors for GABA synthesizing enzyme, GAD, referred to as endogenous GAD inhibitors (EGIs) and for the binding of GABA agonist, muscimol, referred to as muscimol binding inhibitors (MBIs). EGIs and MBIs were first purified through gel-filtration Bio-Gel P-2 columns, in which multiple activity peaks were observed. One of them appears to be co-eluted with either L-glutamate or GABA. However, others are clearly separated from L-glutamate or GABA. EGIs were found to be low MW (less than 1,800 dalton), heat and acid-base stable, negatively charged, non hydrophobic substances. MBIs were found to be low MW (less than 1,800 dalton) neutral or positively charged substances. MBIs had no effect on [3H]flunitrazepam (FNZP) binding, indicating that they are not endogenous benzodiazepine receptor ligands and they may act specifically on GABA binding site.