PHOSPHOLIPID CONTENT AND FATTY-ACID COMPOSITION IN THE RAT-HEART AFTER CHRONIC DIAZEPAM TREATMENT

The effects of chronic diazepam treatment (10 mg/kg/day for 180 days) on the fractional distribution and fatty acid composition of heart pho spholipids were studied in male Wistar rats. It was found that diazepa m treatment increased the content of phosphatidylcholine and cardiolip in in the heart and slightly increased its phosphatidylcholine fractio n. There were no significant changes in fatty acid composition after d iazepam treatment in heart phospholipids, with the exception of signif icant decrease of 20:3n-6 and 20:5n-3 fatty acids. Our findings sugges t that diazepam, probably through peripheral benzodiazepine binding si tes, altered the content of heart cardiolipin and caused changes in th e flux of oxidative phosphorylation in the heart.