Chronic caffeine or theophylline exposure reduces gamma-aminobutyric acid/benzodiazepine receptor site interactions. 1988

D J Roca, and G D Schiller, and D H Farb
Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn 11203.

Methylxanthines, such as caffeine and theophylline, are adenosine receptor antagonists that exert dramatic effects upon the behavior of vertebrate animals by increasing attentiveness, anxiety, and convulsive activity. Benzodiazepines, such as flunitrazepam, generally exert behavioral effects that are opposite to those of methylxanthines. We report the finding that chronic exposure of embryonic brain neurons to caffeine or theophylline reduces the ability of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) to potentiate the binding of [3H]flunitrazepam to the GABA/benzodiazepine receptor. This theophylline-induced "uncoupling" of GABA- and benzodiazepine-binding site allosteric interactions is blocked by chloroadenosine, an adenosine receptor agonist, indicating that the chronic effects of theophylline are mediated by a site that resembles an adenosine receptor. We speculate that adverse central nervous system effects of long-term exposure to methylxanthines such as in caffeine-containing beverages or theophylline-containing medications may be exerted by a cell-mediated modification of the GABAA receptor.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011963 Receptors, GABA-A Cell surface proteins which bind GAMMA-AMINOBUTYRIC ACID and contain an integral membrane chloride channel. Each receptor is assembled as a pentamer from a pool of at least 19 different possible subunits. The receptors belong to a superfamily that share a common CYSTEINE loop. Benzodiazepine-Gaba Receptors,GABA-A Receptors,Receptors, Benzodiazepine,Receptors, Benzodiazepine-GABA,Receptors, Diazepam,Receptors, GABA-Benzodiazepine,Receptors, Muscimol,Benzodiazepine Receptor,Benzodiazepine Receptors,Benzodiazepine-GABA Receptor,Diazepam Receptor,Diazepam Receptors,GABA(A) Receptor,GABA-A Receptor,GABA-A Receptor alpha Subunit,GABA-A Receptor beta Subunit,GABA-A Receptor delta Subunit,GABA-A Receptor epsilon Subunit,GABA-A Receptor gamma Subunit,GABA-A Receptor rho Subunit,GABA-Benzodiazepine Receptor,GABA-Benzodiazepine Receptors,Muscimol Receptor,Muscimol Receptors,delta Subunit, GABA-A Receptor,epsilon Subunit, GABA-A Receptor,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid Subtype A Receptors,Benzodiazepine GABA Receptor,Benzodiazepine Gaba Receptors,GABA A Receptor,GABA A Receptor alpha Subunit,GABA A Receptor beta Subunit,GABA A Receptor delta Subunit,GABA A Receptor epsilon Subunit,GABA A Receptor gamma Subunit,GABA A Receptor rho Subunit,GABA A Receptors,GABA Benzodiazepine Receptor,GABA Benzodiazepine Receptors,Receptor, Benzodiazepine,Receptor, Benzodiazepine-GABA,Receptor, Diazepam,Receptor, GABA-A,Receptor, GABA-Benzodiazepine,Receptor, Muscimol,Receptors, Benzodiazepine GABA,Receptors, GABA A,Receptors, GABA Benzodiazepine,delta Subunit, GABA A Receptor,epsilon Subunit, GABA A Receptor,gamma Aminobutyric Acid Subtype A Receptors
D002110 Caffeine A methylxanthine naturally occurring in some beverages and also used as a pharmacological agent. Caffeine's most notable pharmacological effect is as a central nervous system stimulant, increasing alertness and producing agitation. It also relaxes SMOOTH MUSCLE, stimulates CARDIAC MUSCLE, stimulates DIURESIS, and appears to be useful in the treatment of some types of headache. Several cellular actions of caffeine have been observed, but it is not entirely clear how each contributes to its pharmacological profile. Among the most important are inhibition of cyclic nucleotide PHOSPHODIESTERASES, antagonism of ADENOSINE RECEPTORS, and modulation of intracellular calcium handling. 1,3,7-Trimethylxanthine,Caffedrine,Coffeinum N,Coffeinum Purrum,Dexitac,Durvitan,No Doz,Percoffedrinol N,Percutaféine,Quick-Pep,Vivarin,Quick Pep,QuickPep
D002642 Chick Embryo The developmental entity of a fertilized chicken egg (ZYGOTE). The developmental process begins about 24 h before the egg is laid at the BLASTODISC, a small whitish spot on the surface of the EGG YOLK. After 21 days of incubation, the embryo is fully developed before hatching. Embryo, Chick,Chick Embryos,Embryos, Chick
D005445 Flunitrazepam A benzodiazepine with pharmacologic actions similar to those of DIAZEPAM that can cause ANTEROGRADE AMNESIA. Some reports indicate that it is used as a date rape drug and suggest that it may precipitate violent behavior. The United States Government has banned the importation of this drug. Fluridrazepam,Rohypnol,Fluni 1A Pharma,Flunibeta,Flunimerck,Fluninoc,Flunitrazepam-Neuraxpharm,Flunitrazepam-Ratiopharm,Flunitrazepam-Teva,Flunizep Von Ct,Narcozep,RO-5-4200,Rohipnol,Flunitrazepam Neuraxpharm,Flunitrazepam Ratiopharm,Flunitrazepam Teva,RO54200,Von Ct, Flunizep
D005680 gamma-Aminobutyric Acid The most common inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. 4-Aminobutyric Acid,GABA,4-Aminobutanoic Acid,Aminalon,Aminalone,Gammalon,Lithium GABA,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Calcium Salt (2:1),gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Hydrochloride,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Monolithium Salt,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Monosodium Salt,gamma-Aminobutyric Acid, Zinc Salt (2:1),4 Aminobutanoic Acid,4 Aminobutyric Acid,Acid, Hydrochloride gamma-Aminobutyric,GABA, Lithium,Hydrochloride gamma-Aminobutyric Acid,gamma Aminobutyric Acid,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Hydrochloride,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Monolithium Salt,gamma Aminobutyric Acid, Monosodium Salt
D000494 Allosteric Regulation The modification of the reactivity of ENZYMES by the binding of effectors to sites (ALLOSTERIC SITES) on the enzymes other than the substrate BINDING SITES. Regulation, Allosteric,Allosteric Regulations,Regulations, Allosteric
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013806 Theophylline A methyl xanthine derivative from tea with diuretic, smooth muscle relaxant, bronchial dilation, cardiac and central nervous system stimulant activities. Theophylline inhibits the 3',5'-CYCLIC NUCLEOTIDE PHOSPHODIESTERASE that degrades CYCLIC AMP thus potentiates the actions of agents that act through ADENYLYL CYCLASES and cyclic AMP. 1,3-Dimethylxanthine,3,7-Dihydro-1,3-dimethyl-1H-purine-2,6-dione,Accurbron,Aerobin,Aerolate,Afonilum Retard,Aquaphyllin,Armophylline,Bronchoparat,Bronkodyl,Constant-T,Elixophyllin,Euphylong,Glycine Theophyllinate,Lodrane,Monospan,Nuelin,Nuelin S.A.,Quibron T-SR,Slo-Phyllin,Somophyllin-T,Sustaire,Synophylate,Theo Von Ct,Theo-24,Theo-Dur,Theobid,Theocin,Theoconfin Continuous,Theodur,Theolair,Theolix,Theon,Theonite,Theopek,Theophylline Anhydrous,Theophylline Sodium Glycinate,Theospan,Theostat,Theovent,Uniphyl,Uniphyllin,Uniphylline,1,3 Dimethylxanthine,Anhydrous, Theophylline,Constant T,ConstantT,Ct, Theo Von,Glycinate, Theophylline Sodium,Quibron T SR,Quibron TSR,Slo Phyllin,SloPhyllin,Sodium Glycinate, Theophylline,Somophyllin T,SomophyllinT,Theo 24,Theo Dur,Theo24,Theophyllinate, Glycine,Von Ct, Theo
D013997 Time Factors Elements of limited time intervals, contributing to particular results or situations. Time Series,Factor, Time,Time Factor
D066298 In Vitro Techniques Methods to study reactions or processes taking place in an artificial environment outside the living organism. In Vitro Test,In Vitro Testing,In Vitro Tests,In Vitro as Topic,In Vitro,In Vitro Technique,In Vitro Testings,Technique, In Vitro,Techniques, In Vitro,Test, In Vitro,Testing, In Vitro,Testings, In Vitro,Tests, In Vitro,Vitro Testing, In

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