title: Co-administration of Ro 15-1788 prevents diazepam-induced retardation of recovery of function.
abstract: Following unilateral lesions of the anteromedial cortex, recovery from somatosensory asymmetry reliably occurs within about 10 days. Chronic exposure to diazepam significantly delays this recovery. In the present study, co-administration of Ro 15-1788, a benzodiazepine antagonist (i.e. it blocks the negative and positive allosteric modulation of GABA), prevented diazepam-induced retardation of recovery from somatosensory asymmetry. Nocturnal ambulatory (motor) activity was not different between rats receiving diazepam-alone and those receiving Ro 15-1788 in combination with diazepam. These data suggest that the benzodiazepine receptor is importantly involved in the detrimental effects of diazepam on recovery, and that non-specific behavior sedation plays little or no role.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, U.K.
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schallert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007839:Functional Laterality; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013003:Somatosensory Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005442:Flumazenil; D003975:Diazepam