DIFFERENT LOCATION OF BENZODIAZEPINE SITES INVOLVED IN GUT AND BEHAVIORAL-EFFECTS OF BENZODIAZEPINE WITHDRAWAL IN RATS

This work was performed to determine if the alterations in gastric emp tying induced by precipitated withdrawal are linked to peripherally or centrally located benzodiazepine sites, in rats treated chronically w ith diazepam (15 mg/kg/day IF) for 7 days. In sham-capsaicin-treated r ats, precipitated withdrawal by flumazenil (15 mg/kg IP) induced an in crease of gastric emptying, whereas it had no effect in systemic capsa icin-treated rats. Both groups of animals developed withdrawal syndrom e expressed as motor, autonomic, and behavioral signs. On diazepam-dep endent rats, central administration of flumazenil (0.15 mg/kg ICV) ind uced withdrawal syndrome but had no effect on gastric emptying. These preliminary results suggest that benzodiazepine receptors located in t he central nervous system are involved in behavioral withdrawal syndro me, whereas benzodiazepine receptors located at the peripheral level a re responsible for digestive withdrawal syndrome involving capsaicin-s ensitive neurons.