Significant differences were demonstrated between the long-sleep (LS) and short-sleep (SS) selected mouse lines in the abilities of barbiturates and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) to inhibit t-[S-35]butylbicyclophosphorothionate ([S-35]TBPS) binding to well-washed cerebral cortical membranes. Thus, using phenobarbital to initiate the dissociation of [S-35]TBPS, the extent of inhibition was significantly greater in LS mice (but not SS mice) than would be predicted using equilibrium conditions. Pentobarbital had the opposite effect, causing ]S-35[TBPS to dissociate to a greater extent in SS than LS membranes. [S-35]TBPS binding was dissociated from LS and SS membranes by GABA to a greater and lesser extent, respectively, than would be predicted from equilibrium studies. Because no line differences in the potencies of these drugs to inhibit [S-35]TBPS binding were found using equilibrium conditions, these results indicate that the association rates of barbiturates and GABA may be different between these lines. These findings are consistent with neurochemical studies indicating differences in the benzodiazepine/GABA receptor-chloride channel complex in these selected lines and may explain their differential sensitivities to certain agents acting through this supramolecular complex.
