title: Blockade of the diazepam-induced increase in rat striatal acetylcholine content by the specific benzodiazepine antagonists ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate and Ro 15-1788.
abstract: Diazepam increased the acetylcholine content in the striatum and the hippocampus of the rat. This effect was antagonized in both brain areas by treatment with the specific central benzodiazepine blockers ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate and Ro 15-1788, whereas the peripheral antagonist Ro 5-4864 was ineffective. Pretreatment with picrotoxin, a known GABA antagonist did not interfere with the diazepam-induced acetylcholine increase. These results indicate a specific involvement of benzodiazepine receptors in the cholinergic action of diazepam and this effect appears to be independent of GABA receptor activation.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kolasa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Consolo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Forloni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garattini
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ladinsky
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D000818:Animals; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D001570:Benzodiazepinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D002243:Carbolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005442:Flumazenil; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A
chemical_list: D001570:Benzodiazepinones; D002243:Carbolines; D007211:Indoles; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D001569:Benzodiazepines; C028513:4'-chlorodiazepam; D005442:Flumazenil; C024915:beta-carboline-3-carboxylic acid ethyl ester; D000109:Acetylcholine; D003975:Diazepam