Abstract
The benzodiazepine Ro 5-4864 (60 mg/kg) produced convulsions in mice that could be antagonised either by diazepam (2–4 mg/kg) or by Ro 15-1788 (10–20 mg/kg). In mice and rats subconvulsant doses of Ro 5-4864 were proconvulsant when combined with subconvulsant doses of picrotoxin or pentylenetetrazole. Ro 15-1788 antagonised the tonic convulsions triggered by the drug combinations when it was given at the same time as Ro 5-4864; this antagonism was not observed when the drugs were injected at different times. In contrast to a previous report, we could find no evidence that Ro 5-4864 antagonised seizures induced by electroshock. Using two different ligand-binding techniques, no evidence was seen for the existence in rat brain of the previously reported “micromolar” benzodiazepine receptor, a suggested site of action of Ro 5-4864.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bowdler JM, Green AR (1982) Regional rat brain benzodiazepine receptor number and γ-aminobutyric acid concentration following a convulsion. Br J Pharmacol 76:291–298
Bowling AL, DeLorenzo RJ (1982) Micromolar affinity benzodiazepine receptors; identification and characterisation in the central nervous system. Science 216:1247–1249
Cowen PJ, Green AR, Nutt DJ, Martin IL (1981) Ethyl β-carboline carboxylate lowers seizure threshold and antagonizes flurazepam-induced sedation in rats. Nature 290:54–55
Darragh A, Lambe R, Kenny M, Brick I, Taaffe W, O'Boyle C (1982) Ro-1788 antagonises the central effects of diazepam in man without altering diazepam bioavailability. Br J Clin Pharmacol 14:677–682
DeLorenzo RJ, Burdette S, Holderness J (1981) Benzodiazepine inhibition of the calcium-calmodulin protein kinase system in brain membrane. Science 213:546–549
File SE (1982) Chlordiazepoxide-induced ataxia, muscle relaxation and sedation in the rat: effects of muscimol, picrotoxin and haloxone. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 17:1165–1170
File SE, Lister RG (1982) β CCE and chlordiazepoxide reduce exploratory head-dipping and rearing: no mutual antagonism. Neuropharmacology 21:1215–1218
File SE, Lister RG (1983a) The anxiogenic action of Ro 5-4864 is reversed by phenytoin. Neurosci Lett 35:93–96
File SE, Lister RG (1983b) Anxiogenic actions of picrotoxin and pentylenetetrazole: reversal by chlordiazepoxide. Br J Pharmacol 79:286P
File SE, Lister RG, Nutt DJ (1982) The anxiogenic action of benzodiazepine antagonists. Neuropharmacology 21:1033–1037
File SE, Mabbutt PS (1983) Behavioural effects of Ro 5-4864, a ligand for the micromolar benzodiazepine receptor. Br J Pharmacol 78:76P
File SE, Pellow S (1983) Ro 5-4864, a ligand for benzodiazepine micromolar and peripheral binding sites: antagonism and enhancement of behavioural effects. Psychopharmacology 80:166–170
Hunkeler W, Möhler H, Pieri L, Polc P, Bonetti EP, Cumin R, Schaffner R, Haefely W (1981) Selective antagonists of benzodiazepines. Nature 290:514–516
Lister RG, Greenblatt DS, Abernethy DR, File SE (1983) Pharmacokinetic studies on Ro 1788, a benzodiazepine receptor ligand, in the brain of the rat. Brain Res (in press)
Nutt DJ, Cowen PJ, Green AR (1981) Studies on the postictal rise is seizure threshold. Eur J Pharmacol 71:287–295
Pieri L, Polc P, Bonetti EP, Burkard W, Cumin R, Scherschlicht R, Haefely W (1983) Some pharmacological effects of Ro 5-4864, a specific ligand of the peripheral type of benzodiazepine receptor. Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Arch Pharmacol (Suppl) (in press)
Weissman BA, Cott J, Paul SM, Skolnick P (1983) Ro 5-4864: a potent benzodiazepine convulsant. Eur J Pharmacol 90:149–150
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
File, S.E., Green, A.R., Nutt, D.J. et al. On the convulsant action of Ro 5-4864 and the existence of a micromolar benzodiazepine binding site in rat brain. Psychopharmacology 82, 199–202 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427773
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00427773