Attention Span, Anxiety and Benzodiazepine Receptors
Abstract
The specific 3Hflunitrazepam binding to neocortical and hippocampal membranes was measured following a 2 week treatment of rats with the benzodiazepine receptor antagonist flumazenil (FL; Ro 15-1788; 2.7 or 4 mg/kg/ day in drinking water). The binding sites showed a gradually increasing density, which remained elevated for up to 24 and 72 hours after drug withdrawal. The dissociation constants (Kd) for the ligand remained largely unchanged. Most importantly, a strong coupling between the GABA and the benzodiazepine recognition sites was found in the cortex but not in the hippocampus, as measured by reduction in GABA enhanced 3Hflunitrazepam bindings to neuronal membranes from FL- treated animals killed 72 hours after drug withdrawal. The behavioral correlates of chronic exposure of adult rats to FL (4 mg/kg/day x 21 days in drinking water) were as follows: on day 13 of drug treatment, there was a strong anxiolytic action, increased exploratory behavior.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 26, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA234549
Entities
People
- Thaddeus J. Marczynski
Organizations
- University of Illinois at Chicago