Quantification of the depressive effects of diazepam on the guinea pig righting reflex.
The effects of 5 mg/kg/day diazepam (IP for 21-39 days) on righting reflex latency (RRL) and neuronal activity in the medial vestibular nucleus (MVN) were investigated in guinea pigs. Diazepam treatment increased the RRL relative to vehicle-injected controls (p < 0.05, ANOVA); although the average RRL in the diazepam-treated animals did decrease over time, this decrease was not statistically significant and therefore evidence of tolerance was not obtained. MVN slices were removed from diazepam-treated animals and recordings were made from MVN neurons in vitro. The average resting activities for MVN neurons in slices from diazepam-treated animals and uninjected animals from a previous study were not significantly different.
Scott
S J
SJ
Department of Psychology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Smith
P F
PF
Darlington
C L
CL
D000818:Animals; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D003975:Diazepam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects; D004856:Postural Balance / Q000187:drug effects*; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects*; D014726:Vestibular Nuclei / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D003975:Diazepam