title: Effects of central and systemic injections of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands on the anxiolytic actions of ethanol in rats.
abstract: The influence of peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands Ro5-4864 (0.05 or 1.0 mg/kg, i.p.) or PK11195 (0.05 or 1.0 mg/kg, i.p.) on the anxiolytic effect of ethanol (1.2 g/kg; 14% p/v; i.p.) was investigated in rats tested on the elevated plus-maze. Other animals were injected through intrahippocampal administrations of the ligands (0.5 or 1.0 nmol/0.5 &mgr;l) before ethanol (1.2g/kg; 14% p/v; i.p.) and submitted to the elevated plus-maze test. The results showed that the systemic administration of either ligands 24 hours before the ethanol treatment resulted in a reduced anxiolytic effect of this drug. Only PK11195 reversed the effect of ethanol after intrahippocampal injection. These data suggest that peripheral benzodiazepine receptors play a role in ethanol anxiolysis.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Farmacologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil.
authors.forename: G. S.
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Morato
authors.forename: V. M. M.
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: P.
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferrara
authors.forename: R. C.
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Farges