Benzodiazepine interactions with central thyroid-releasing hormone binding sites: characterization and physiological significance.

Thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) and several TRH analogs were examined in the [3H]-3-Me-His2-TRH ([3H]MeTRH) receptor-binding assay in rat amygdala, striatal and cortical membranes. The benzodiazepine, chlordiazepoxide, as reported in the literature was found to displace [3H]MeTRH with an IC50 value of 3.6 X 10(-7) M in amygdala membranes. Midazolam was, however, identified as being 6-fold more active than chlordiazepoxide with an IC50 value of 6.3 X 10(-8) M. The effect of these benzodiazepines on [3H]MeTRH binding did not appear to be related to their anxiolytic activity because the novel pyrazoloquinoline nonsedating anxiolytic, CGS 9896 was without effect on [3H]MeTRH binding at concentrations up to 1 X 10(-5) M. Chlordiazepoxide had similar activity in cortical membranes whereas midazolam was some 5 times less active in this preparation than in amygdala. Both compounds were weak displacers of [3H]MeTRH binding in striatal membranes, being at least two orders of magnitude less potent than in amygdala. In contrast TRH and its analogs, RX 77368 and DN-1417, were approximately 2 to 8 times more active in striatum than amygdala membranes. TRH and DN-1417 were less active in cortical membranes whereas RX 77368 was some three times more active than in striatum and amygdala. In three test procedures indicative of TRH agonist activity; thyroid-stimulating hormone release, reversal of pentobarbital sleeping time in mice and elevation of cerebellar cyclic GMP levels, the benzodiazepines were found to be devoid of activity, whereas TRH and related compounds produced their expected responses.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)