ERYTHROCYTE GANGLIOSIDE CONTENT IN RATS AFTER CHRONIC DIAZEPAM TREATMENT

The N-acetylneuraminic acid content of red blood cells and plasma has been analyzed in rats after chronic diazepam treatment. Male Wistar ra ts with an initial weight of 196 g were maintained on a nutritionally adequate diet, and diazepam was administered at a dose of 10 mg/kg/day . Control animals were pair-fed an adequate diet. The feeding was cont inued for 180 days, and the effects on erythrocyte and plasma ganglios ide content were studied. It was found that the content of glycolipid- bound sialic acid (N-acetylneuraminic acid) was significantly reduced in the erythrocytes of diazepam-treated rats. Plasma glycolipid-bound sialic acid contents were positively related to the concentration of N -acetylneuraminic acid in erythrocytes in diazepam-treated rats. The r esults suggest that changes in erythrocyte ganglioside content may med iate the adaptive changes that occur upon prolonged exposure to diazep am.