Naltrexone-reversible effects of flunitrazepam on locomotor activity and passive avoidance behaviour in mice.
Some behavioural effects of flunitrazepam were investigated in two sets of experiments in C57BL/6 mice. In the first set, flunitrazepam administration (0.025 or 0.05 mg/kg) enhanced the locomotor activity of mice. In the second set, memory impairments were observed following posttraining (immediately or 30 min, but not 60 min) treatment with the drug (0.05 mg/kg). All effects were antagonized by a per se ineffective dose of naltrexone (0.5 mg/kg for the activity, 0.1 mg/kg for the memory experiments), suggesting the involvement of opioid receptors. The results are discussed on the basis of recent evidence suggesting a link between benzodiazepine and opiate mechanisms of action.
D000818:Animals; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D005445:Flunitrazepam / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009270:Naloxone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D009271:Naltrexone / Q000494:pharmacology*
D009270:Naloxone; D009271:Naltrexone; D005445:Flunitrazepam