Abstract
The protective effects of drugs acting at the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor complex against ethanol-induced gastric damage in rats were investigated. Gastric lesions were induced by administration of 1 ml absolute ethanol orally to rats. Administration of clonazepam (0.625–2.5 mg/kg, IP), wich binds with high affinity to the benzodiazepine binding site of the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor complex, or Ro 5–3663 (2.5 or 5 mg/kg), wich binds to the piorotoxinin site of the receptor complex, protected against ethanol-induced gastric damage. The protective effect of clonazepam (1.25 mg/kg, IP) against ethanol-induced gastric damage was reversed, dose dependently, by the specific benzodiazepine antagonist, flumazenil (5–20 mg/kg, IP). This protective effect of clonazepam or Ro 5–3663 seems to be specific to ethanol-induced gastric damage, since neither drug protected against indomethacin-induced gastric damage. These results present for the first time evidence of the involvement of drugs acting at GABA-benzodiazepine receptors in protection against ethanol-induced gastric damage.
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Najim, R.A., Karim, K.H. Protection against ethanol-induced gastric damage by drugs acting at the GABA-benzodiazepine receptor complex. Psychopharmacology 103, 110–114 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244084
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02244084