Early ontogeny of the central benzodiazepine receptor in human embryos and fetuses
The early ontogeny of the central benzodiazepine receptor (BZR) was investigated in human embryos and fetuses between 7 and 26 weeks of gestation. Brain tissue was gained from terminated pregnancies or spontaneous abortions. Binding studies, which were performed with /sup 3/H-flunitrazepam (FNZ), revealed that specific benzodiazepine binding is already detectable at an embryonal age of 7 weeks post conception. Binding at this early stage can be displaced potently by clonazepam and the inverse agonist ..beta..-CCE. Additionally, /sup 3/H-FNZ binding is enhanced by GABA. Thus, benzodiazepine binding is of the central type. Receptor density increases steeply in whole brain between weeks 8 and 11 of gestation. In frontal cortex receptor density increases gradually between weeks 12 and 26 of gestation. No specific fetal disease entity (including trisomy 21) was consistently associated with exceptionally high or low B/sub max/-values.
- Research Organization:
- Universitaet Bonn (Germany, F.R.)
- OSTI ID:
- 6143121
- Journal Information:
- Life Sci.; (United States), Vol. 43:25
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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EMBRYOS
BIOCHEMISTRY
FETUSES
RECEPTORS
ONTOGENESIS
TRANQUILIZERS
BIOCHEMICAL REACTION KINETICS
BRAIN
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
BODY
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM
CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM AGENTS
CHEMISTRY
DRUGS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
KINETICS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
NERVOUS SYSTEM
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
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550201* - Biochemistry- Tracer Techniques