Studies on the interaction between cerebral 5‐hydroxytryptamine and γ‐aminobutyric acid in the mode of action of diazepam in the rat
Open Access
- 18 July 1983
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in British Journal of Pharmacology
- Vol. 79 (3), 637-643
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1476-5381.1983.tb10000.x
Abstract
1 The effect of the benzodiazepine, diazepam, administered for 7 days in doses between 1.25 and 5 mg kg−1 was studied on the turnover of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) in rat cerebral cortex. 5-HT turnover was assessed by calculating the ratio of the concentration of the major metabolite 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) to that of 5-HT (i.e., 5-HIAA:5-HT). Diazepam (2.5 and 5 mg kg−1 i.p. daily for 7 days) significantly reduced cerebral cortical 5-HT turnover. 2 The effect of manipulating cerebral γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) mechanisms on this action of diazepam was studied. Treatment of animals with a subconvulsive dose of Picrotoxin (3 mg kg−1 i.p.) reversed the fall in cortical 5-HT turnover seen following diazepam. In contrast, however, treatment with the GABA transaminase inhibitors, amino-oxyacetic acid (25 mg kg−1) or ethanolamine-O-sulphate (250 mg kg−1, 7 days) which elevated cerebral GABA concentrations, enhanced the reduction in cortical 5-HT turnover following diazepam. 3 Focal injection of picrotoxin (0.1 μg) into the region of the dorsal raphé nucleus reversed the decrease in cortical 5-HT turnover caused by diazepam. 4 The hypothesis that doses of diazepam which result in total plasma concentrations comparable to those observed in man produce a reduction in 5-HT turnover mediated via GABA neurones is discussed.This publication has 27 references indexed in Scilit:
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