[3H]CL 218,872, a novel triazolopyridazine which labels the benzodiazepine receptors in rat brain.

We examined the specific binding of [3H]CL 218,872, a novel triazolopyridazine to benzodiazepine receptors in the rat cerebral cortex. Two binding sites with KD values of about 10-30 nM and 200-600 nM were demonstrated. A number of benzodiazepine anxiolytics inhibited [3H]CL 218,872 binding in a manner which correlates with the potency of these drugs for inhibiting [3H]benzodiazepine binding. Our initial studies show that [3H]CL 218,872 can label the benzodiazepine receptors and may prove to be a useful probe for studying benzodiazepine heterogeneity and regulation.

A pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic/receptor binding model to predict the onset and duration of pharmacological activity of the benzodiazepines.

Ex vivo receptor binding as a function of time was determined in Charles River rats. The pharmacokinetic and protein binding parameters in man as well as the ex vivo receptor binding parameters in rat brain for three benzodiazepine induction agents, diazepam, lorazepam and midazolam, were used to develop and test a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic/receptor binding model. The model was subsequently used to predict changes in receptor binding and pharmacodynamics as a function of changes in pharmacokinetics. The model was found to be a good predictor of the relative onset and duration of the sedative and amnesic properties in normal subjects as well as in the presence of certain patho-physiological conditions and certain drug interactions.