The effect of chronic treatment with peripheral benzodiazepine receptor ligands on behavior and GABAA/benzodiazepine receptors in rat.

Rats were twice daily (2 x 10 mg/kg, i.p.) treated for three weeks with the peripheral benzodiazepine (BZ) receptor ligands Ro 5-4864 (4'-chlorodiazepam) and PK 11,195 (1-(2-chlorophenyl)-N-methyl-N-(1-methylpropyl)-3-isoquinoline-carbox ami de).

Correlation between exploratory activity in an elevated plus-maze and number of central and peripheral benzodiazepine binding sites.

Two groups of rats were selected from a small animal population on the basis of their exploratory activity in an elevated plus-maze model of anxiety. One group had a considerably lower and the other one a higher exploratory activity than the average total population. These subgroups were termed "anxious" and "non-anxious", respectively.

Stress-protection action of beta-phenyl(GABA): involvement of central and peripheral type benzodiazepine binding sites.

Forced swimming stress caused a significant increase in the density of central type benzodiazepine binding sites in rat cerebral cortex and hippocampus. The number of peripheral type benzodiazepine binding sites was also enhanced on blood platelets. The affinity of neither central nor peripheral type benzodiazepine binding sites was changed considerably after swimming stress.