Drug interactions do not support reduction in serotonin turnover as the mechanism of action of benzodiazepines.
Interactions between 5-methoxy, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT), chlordiazepoxide and para-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA) on conflict behaviour were studied. 5-Methoxy, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg), induced observable effects and reduced unpunished response rates but did not affect punished behaviour either alone, on in the presence of 5 or 10 mg/kg chlordiazepoxide. However, 5-MeODMT (1 mg/kg) reversed the anti-conflict effects of chronic administration of pCPA (100 mg/kg). Chronic administration of pCPA did not prevent the increase in punished response rates induced by chlordiazepoxide (5 mg/kg). These findings are discussed in the context of the serotonin hypothesis of benzodiazepine action, with the conclusion that benzodiazepines act at a site distal to that of serotonergic drugs on conflict behaviour.
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002707:Chlordiazepoxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008732:Methoxydimethyltryptamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011678:Punishment; D051381:Rats; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin / Q000187:drug effects; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*
D008732:Methoxydimethyltryptamines; D011985:Receptors, Serotonin; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D012701:Serotonin; D002707:Chlordiazepoxide; D010134:Fenclonine