Abstract
The effect of diazepam, depakine thiosemicarbazide (TSC), and bicuculline on unit activity of the sensomotor cortex arising spontaneously and evoked by sciatic nerve stimulation was studied in unanesthetized, immobilized albino rats. Diazepam was shown to strengthen the inhibitory effects, i.e., to reduce the frequency of spontaneous discharges and to prolong postactivation depression of unit activity (the inhibitory pause). Depakine which increases the brain GABA concentration, had a similar action. Bicuculline, which blocks GABA-ergic receptors, and TSC, which reduces its concentration, had the opposite action and weakened inhibition. A two-way antagonism also was found between diazepam and bicuculline as regards their effect on unit activity. The results confirm the earlier hypothesis that diazepam can potentiate the effect of GABA on cortical neurons.
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Ostrovskaya, R.U., Molodavkin, G.M. The GABA-ergic mechanism of the effect of diazepam on cortical neurons. Bull Exp Biol Med 82, 1343–1346 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00799470
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00799470