title: Discriminative stimulus properties of midazolam: comparison with other benzodiazepines.
abstract: Rats (N = 12) were trained to discriminate midazolam (1 mg/kg, IP) from vehicle in a food reinforced operant conditioning procedure. Midazolam, flunitrazepam, diazepam, chlordiazepoxide and pentobarbital showed dose-dependent substitution for midazolam. Buspirone and Ro 15-1788 did not substitute for midazolam. The midazolam cue was dose-dependently antagonized by Ro 15-1788. In rats (N = 12) trained to discriminate chlordiazepoxide (3 mg/kg, IP) from vehicle midazolam, flunitrazepam, diazepam and chlordiazepoxide substituted completely and dose dependently for chlordiazepoxide. The relative potency of chlordiazepoxide and diazepam was three times less in the midazolam-trained animals than in the chlordiazepoxide-trained animals. Response rate and latency data further support the main finding that the midazolam cue is similar, but not identical to the cue of classical benzodiazepines.
authors.affiliation: Netherlands Institute for Drugs and Doping Research, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Woudenberg
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Slangen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects*; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D005442:Flumazenil; D008874:Midazolam