BEHAVIORAL RESPONSIVENESS TO PICROTOXIN AND DESIPRAMINE IN ADULT-RATSPRENATALLY EXPOSED TO DIFFERENT BENZODIAZEPINE RECEPTOR AGONISTS

The behavioural responsiveness to picrotoxin and desipramine was inves tigated in adult rats prenatally exposed to different benzodiazepine r eceptor agonists such as diazepam, alprazolam and zolpidem. Prenatal e xposure to diazepam and alprazolam similarly potentiated the anti-immo bility effect on the forced swimming test and the inhibitory effect on spontaneous motor activity of picrotoxin and desipramine and increase d the seizure sensitivity to picrotoxin. Prenatal zolpidem seems to be ineffective. These data suggest that, despite the differences in thei r pharmacodynamic profile, prenatal exposure to diazepam and alprazola m, but not zolpidem, may have similar permanent consequences on the be havioural effects of drugs acting on the GABA(A) receptors.