Co-administration of Ro 15-1788 prevents diazepam-induced retardation of recovery of function.
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.
Hernandez
T D
TD
Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Cambridge, U.K.
Jones
G H
GH
Schallert
T
T
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
D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005442:Flumazenil; D003975:Diazepam