Journal of Neuroscience, Vol 6, 2747-2756, Copyright © 1986 by Society for Neuroscience
Regional distribution of flunitrazepam binding constants: visualizing Kd and Bmax by digital image analysis
AW Toga, EM Santori and M Samaie
We demonstrate direct visualization of benzodiazepine binding parameters
collected in a 3H-flunitrazepam saturation study. In this way the
relationship between anatomy and specific binding, Kd and Bmax, can be
appreciated. These experiments have resulted in image representations of
specific flunitrazepam binding, Kd and Bmax. The images retain the anatomic
localization inherent in the original autoradiogram and hence make these
parameters amenable to visual survey. Binding constants were consistent
with data presented elsewhere in the literature. The image of Bmax showed
regional heterogeneity. Kd, on the other hand, was relatively homogeneous.
These results demonstrate a means by which autoradiographic binding
experiments can be extended to saturation studies without significant loss
of data.