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Benzodiazepine receptor mediation of behavioral effects of nitrous oxide in mice

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Abstract

Nitrous oxide produces behavioral effects, the underlying mechanism of which is not known. In the mouse staircase test, exposure to nitrous oxide caused a reduction in rearing activity, an effect similar to that produced by benzodiazepines in this paradigm, when its opioid action on locomotion is blocked by naloxone. In this study, we tested whether effects of nitrous oxide might be mediated by benzodiazepine receptors, using chlordiazepoxide as a control. The abilities of nitrous oxide and chlordiazepoxide to reduce rearing were significantly attenuated in mice pretreated with the benzodiazepine receptor blocker flumazenil or rendered tolerant to benzodiazepines. These findings suggest an involvement of benzodiazepine receptors in mediation of certain behavioral effects of nitrous oxide.

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Author notes

  1. D. E. Emmanouil

    Present address: University of Athens Faculty of Dentistry, Athens, Greece

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford, 1601 Parkview Avenue, 61107-1897, Rockford, IL, USA

    R. M. Quock

  2. Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Marquette University School of Dentistry, 53233-2188, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    D. E. Emmanouil & R. J. Pruhs

  3. Department of Basic Sciences, Marquette University School of Dentistry, 53233-2188, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    L. K. Vaughn

Authors
  1. R. M. Quock
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  2. D. E. Emmanouil
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  3. L. K. Vaughn
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  4. R. J. Pruhs
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Quock, R.M., Emmanouil, D.E., Vaughn, L.K. et al. Benzodiazepine receptor mediation of behavioral effects of nitrous oxide in mice. Psychopharmacology 107, 310–314 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02245153

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02245153

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