It is known that the density of peripheral benzodiazepine receptors (P
BR) increases after brain damage. Astrocytes are among the cell types
where PBR ligand binding has been detected and may be involved in the
response to neuronal injury and regeneration. Consistent with the hypo
thesis, the apparent density of PER sites in astrocytes is increased b
y both cytokines and neurotoxins. However, microglia, the resident mac
rophages which represent 5-15% of glial cell populations have not been
evaluated for the presence of the PER. In the present study, we repor
t the presence of [H-3]Ro5-4864 binding in microglial cells. In partic
ular, we used BV-2 cells, an immortalized cell line of murine microgli
al cells. High affinity binding of [H-3]Ro5-4864 to a single site was
detected in membranes prepared from BV-2 cells (K-D = 4.4 nM, B-max =
3,800 fmoles/mg protein). Various ligands for the PER displaced [H-3]R
o5-4864 binding with the following rank order of potencies: PK11195 =
Ro5-4864 > FGIN-1-27 > triazolam = diazepam > beta-pro-pyl-beta-carbol
ine-3-carboxylate = clonazepam > lorazepam = flurazepam >> chloridazep
oxide = clorazepate. Subcellular fractionationstudies indicate that th
e majority of the Ro5-4864 binding sites is in the mitochondrial fract
ion. The remainder is found in nonmitochondrial cell fractions. The [H
-3]Ro5-4864 binding observed on intact cells had characteristics simil
ar to those found on membranes. The presence of a high density of PBRs
in these cells establish the basis for additional investigations into
their possible functional role, if any, in the microglial response to
neuronal injury. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.