Sulfhydryl reagents have different effects on substance P and neurokinin B binding sites on cortical synaptosomes in the rat.

The effects of several protein modifying reagents, including phenoxybenzamine, N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), 5,5'-dithiobis (2-nitro)--benzoic acid (DTNB), p-chloromercuryphenyl sulfonic acid (PCMP) and p-bromophenacylbromide (PBPB), on the binding of 125I-Bolton Hunter substance P (125I-BHSP), 125I-Bolton Hunter eledoisin (125I-BHELE) and 3H-neurokinin B (3H-NKB)4 to cortical synaptosomes were examined. PCMP (10(-4) M), DTNB (10(-4) M) and NEM (10(-3) M) were without effect on the 125I-BHSP binding but reduced markedly the specific binding of 125I-BHELE or 3H-NKB. Although phenoxybenzamine and PBPB inhibited the 125I-BHSP binding when used in high concentrations (10(-4) M and 10(-3) M), they were more potent in inhibiting the 125I-BHELE or 3H-NKB binding. These results indicate that the NKB binding site is more sensitive to alkylating reagents than the SP binding sites and that these reagents can be used to distinguish SP and NKB receptors in the brain.