Example 7
In Vitro Binding of 5-HT2A Receptor
Animals:
Animals (Sprague-Dawley rats) are sacrificed and brains are rapidly dissected and frozen in isopentane maintained at −42° C. Horizontal sections are prepared on a cryostat and maintained at −20° C.
LSD Displacement Protocol:
Lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) is a potent 5-HT2A receptor and dopamine D2 receptor ligand. An indication of the selectivity of compounds for either or both of these receptors involves displacement of radiolabeled-bound LSD from pre-treated brain sections. For these studies, radiolabeled 125I-LSD (NEN Life Sciences, Boston, Mass., Catalogue number NEX-199) can be utilized; spiperone (RBI, Natick, Mass. Catalogue number s-128) a 5-HT2A receptor and dopamine D2 receptor antagonist, can also utilized. Buffer consists of 50 nanomolar TRIS-HCl, pH 7.4.
Brain sections are incubated in (a) Buffer plus 1 nanomolar 125I-LSD; (b) Buffer plus 1 nanomolar 125I-LSD and 1 micromolar spiperone; or Buffer plus 1 nanomolar 125I-LSD and 1 micromolar Compound of interest for 30 minutes at room temperature. Sections are then washed 2×10 minutes at 4° C. in Buffer, followed by 20 seconds in distilled H2O. Slides are then air-dried.
After drying, sections are apposed to x-ray film (Kodak Hyperfilm) and exposed for 4 days.