title: The influence of midazolam and flumazenil on rat brain slices oxygen consumption.
abstract: This study investigated the impact of benzodiazepine receptor agonist, midazolam and antagonist, flumazenil, on the rat frontal cortex slices oxygen consumption (QO(2)), in presence and absence of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). QO(2) was polarographically determined, using the biological oxygen monitor. As it was previously shown, GABA on its own decreases QO(2) moderately. Midazolam decreased QO(2) at 1.0mg/kg, whereas flumazenil had no effect. In combination with per se ineffective GABA (10(-6)mol/l), flumazenil showed respiratory depressant action, presumably revealing partial agonistic activity at some of GABA(A) receptor subtypes. However, it completely antagonized effects of midazolam on QO(2), on its own and in presence of GABA. Our results show that in vivo well-established effects of midazolam on cerebral metabolic activity could be reproduced in in vitro settings. Moreover, flumazenil antagonized this action, indicating the role of GABA(A)-benzodiazepine receptor complex activation in QO(2) regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Belgrade, Medical Faculty, Belgrade, Yugoslavia.
authors.forename: Dragan I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Obradović
authors.forename: Miroslav M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Savić
authors.forename: Draginja S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Andjelković
authors.forename: Nenad D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Ugresić
authors.forename: Dubravko R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Bokonjić
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001923:Brain Chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D005442:Flumazenil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018757:GABA Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A / Q000187:drug effects; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D018757:GABA Modulators; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D011963:Receptors, GABA-A; D005442:Flumazenil; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D008874:Midazolam