title: The effect of diazepam on atrial automaticity is not mediated by benzodiazepine receptors.
abstract: The effect of diazepam on nomotopic cardiac automaticity was examined in the spontaneously beating isolated right atria of the rat. We also investigated whether "central"- or "peripheral"-type benzodiazepine receptors are involved and studied the role of calcium and adenosine in the possible effect of diazepam by the interaction of this drug with either GABA, picrotoxin, RO 15-1788, PK 11195, diltiazem or theophylline. Diazepam (400-500 microM) completely abolished atrial automaticity. This effect was not modified by the presence of either RO 15-1788 (30 microM), PK 11195 (0.1 microM), GABA (100 microM), picrotoxin (7 microM), theophylline (5 microM), diltiazem (0.6 microM) or hypercalcic media (3.6 mM). It is concluded that the diazepam-induced reduction of atrial frequency is mediated neither by "central"- nor "peripheral"- type benzodiazepine receptors, adenosine or calcium and could be due to a nonspecific interaction with the cell membrane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Murcia Medical School, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pérez
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000494:pharmacology; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010852:Picrotoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects*; D013806:Theophylline / Q000494:pharmacology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D003975:Diazepam; D004110:Diltiazem; D004121:Dimethyl Sulfoxide; D005442:Flumazenil; D007546:Isoquinolines; D010852:Picrotoxin; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D013806:Theophylline; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; C037850:PK 11195