title: Pharmacological profile of the imidazopyridine zolpidem at benzodiazepine receptors and electrocorticogram in rats.
abstract: Zolpidem is a novel non-benzodiazepine related hypnotic, which possesses an imidazopyridine structure. This drug has preferential affinity for the 3H-diazepam binding site in the rat cerebellum, while it is only weakly active at inhibiting 3H-Ro 5-4864 binding to the rat kidney. The potency of zolpidem at displacing 3H-Ro 15-1788 binding to rat cerebral cortex membranes is enhanced in the presence of GABA. On the sleep pattern of the electrocorticogram in the curarised rat, zolpidem induces a physiological type of slow wave sleep with rapid onset of action. Zolpidem differs from classical benzodiazepine drugs, in possessing an atypical binding profile to 3H-benzodiazepine receptors, and because it does not affect the sleep patterns.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000378:metabolism; D001667:Binding, Competitive; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D004569:Electroencephalography; D008297:Male; D011725:Pyridines / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D000077334:Zolpidem; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D011725:Pyridines; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077334:Zolpidem