title: Effect of long term diazepam administration on testicular benzodiazepine receptors and steroidogenesis.
abstract: We evaluated the effect of acute and chronic diazepam administration on testicular peripheral type benzodiazepine receptors (PBZD-R), serum testosterone and LH levels and the "in vitro" androgen production in response to Ro 5-4864, a PBZD-R agonist. The chronic diazepam treatment induced a significant fall in plasma testosterone concentration while LH levels remained unchanged. The number of PBZD-R was reduced by 37% and low concentrations (10(-8)-10(-6) M) of Ro 5-4864 failed to stimulate "in vitro" androgen production. The acute diazepam administration caused a significant increase in plasma testosterone levels while no changes were observed in LH concentrations and testicular PBZD-R. These results further suggest a modulatory role of PBZD-R on testicular steroidogenic activity.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: M B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Calandra
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Medina
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Ritta
mesh_terms: D000728:Androgens / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001570:Benzodiazepinones / Q000494:pharmacology; D003292:Convulsants / Q000494:pharmacology; D003975:Diazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000378:metabolism*; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000728:Androgens; D001570:Benzodiazepinones; D003292:Convulsants; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; C028513:4'-chlorodiazepam; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D003975:Diazepam