Drug interactions do not support reduction in serotonin turnover as the mechanism of action of benzodiazepines.
R A Shephard, D A Buxton, P L Broadhurst
Neuropharmacology October 1, 1982 DOI: 10.1016/0028-3908(82)90117-4 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Experimental study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Population | Rats |
| Interventions | 5-MeODMT chlordiazepoxide pCPA |
| Dose | 1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg 5-MeODMT, 5 or 10 mg/kg chlordiazepoxide, 100 mg/kg pCPA |
| Topics | Serotonin |
| Citations | 59 |
| Key findings | 5-MeODMT reversed the anti-conflict effects of chronic pCPA but did not affect punished behavior alone or with chlordiazepoxide, and chronic pCPA did not prevent chlordiazepoxide's effects. |
Abstract
Interactions between 5-methoxy, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT), chlordiazepoxide and para-chlorophenylalanine (pCPA) on conflict behaviour were studied. 5-Methoxy, N,N-dimethyltryptamine (1.0 and 3.0 mg/kg), induced observable effects and reduced unpunished response rates but did not affect punished behaviour either alone, on in the presence of 5 or 10 mg/kg chlordiazepoxide. However, 5-MeODMT (1 mg/kg) reversed the anti-conflict effects of chronic administration of pCPA (100 mg/kg). Chronic administration of pCPA did not prevent the increase in punished response rates induced by chlordiazepoxide (5 mg/kg). These findings are discussed in the context of the serotonin hypothesis of benzodiazepine action, with the conclusion that benzodiazepines act at a site distal to that of serotonergic drugs on conflict behaviour.