title: Effects of benzodiazepines on thymus cell proliferation.
abstract: The effects of three different benzodiazepine receptor ligands viz: diazepam, Ro 5-4864, and Ro 15-1788 on the mitotic activity of rat thymus were investigated. It was found that a single injection of diazepam resulted in a significant increase of the mitotic activity of the thymus cells 36 and 48 hours after drug administration. In contrast, Ro 5-4864 significantly depressed the mitotic activity rate 24 and 36 hours after injection. No significant change after the administration of Ro 15-1788 was found. These findings suggest the involvement of both central and peripheral benzodiazepine receptor in the control of thymus cell proliferation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Endocrinology, School of Medicine, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Stepien
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pawlikowska
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pawlikowski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001570:Benzodiazepinones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001570:Benzodiazepinones; C028513:4'-chlorodiazepam; D005442:Flumazenil; D003975:Diazepam