title: Visual evoked potentials and nitrous oxide-induced neuronal depression: role for benzodiazepine receptors.
abstract: We have examined the role of benzodiazepine receptors in nitrous oxide-induced neuronal depression in rats. The changes in neuronal excitability induced by nitrous oxide and the benzodiazepine inverse agonist, Ro15-4513, were monitored by measurement of visual evoked potentials (VEP). Administration of Ro15-4513 10 mg kg-1 i.p., in rats breathing air, did not affect the amplitude or latency of VEP. However, the same concentrations of Ro15-4513 antagonized nitrous oxide-induced depression of VEP amplitudes. We conclude that antagonism of nitrous oxide-induced depression by Ro15-4513 indicates that at least part of the decreased neuronal excitability caused by nitrous oxide could be ascribed to interactions with the GABAA receptor complex.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthesiology, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dzoljic
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Erdmann
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Dzoljic
mesh_terms: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001386:Azides / Q000494:pharmacology; D001569:Benzodiazepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D001386:Azides; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D001569:Benzodiazepines; C042957:Ro 15-4513; D009609:Nitrous Oxide