Beneficial effect of pharmacological modulation of the GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor on hepatic encephalopathy in the rat: comparison with uremic encephalopathy.

Abstract

Hepatic encephalopathy is ameliorated by drugs acting on the central GABAA-benzodiazepine receptor complex. To investigate whether these effects are specific for hepatic encephalopathy or just reflect a nonspecific arousal reaction, various benzodiazepine antagonists like flumazenil or with inverse agonistic properties (Ro 15-4513, Ro 15-3505) were studied in uremic encephalopathy in rats after bilateral ureteral ligation (n = 20) and compared with hepatic encephalopathy caused by thioacetamide-induced acute liver failure (n = 33). As soon as the animals developed clear signs of metabolic encephalopathy, their motor activity was recorded in an animal activity meter for 10 min. Furthermore, a composite score was calculated by grading various behavioral signs from 0 = absent to 3 = apparently normal. Rats were then injected with coded preparations of Ro 15-4513 (0.5, 2.5 and 5 mg/kg body wt intraperitoneally), flumazenil (2.5, 10, 25 and 40 mg/kg), Ro 15-3505 (10 mg/kg) or vehicle, and the measurements were repeated. The code was broken after the completion of the study. Pretreatment motor activity was decreased both in hepatic and uremic encephalopathy (20.7 +/- 6.4 [S.E.M.] and 41.3 +/- 37.1 movements/10 min). In hepatic encephalopathy motor activity and the composite score were improved both by 5 mg/kg Ro 15-4513 (by 293%, p less than 0.05) and by 10 mg/kg Ro 15-3505 (by 509%, p greater than 0.01), whereas vehicle and flumazenil had no effects. In uremic encephalopathy neither drug was effective in improving the neurobehavioral status.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

• Authors: P Steindl, A Püspök, W Druml, P Ferenci
• Journal: Hepatology (Baltimore, Md.) (Hepatology) Vol. 14 Issue 6 Pg. 963-8 (Dec 1991) ISSN: 0270-9139 [Print] United States
• PMID: 1660024 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Azides
• Benzodiazepinones
• Receptors, GABA-A
• Benzodiazepines
• Flumazenil
• Ro 15-3505
• Ro 15-4513

Topics

• Animals
• Azides (pharmacology)
• Behavior, Animal (drug effects)
• Benzodiazepines (antagonists & inhibitors, pharmacology)
• Benzodiazepinones (pharmacology)
• Coma (etiology, physiopathology)
• Flumazenil (pharmacology)
• Hepatic Encephalopathy (physiopathology, psychology)
• Male
• Motor Activity (drug effects)
• Rats
• Rats, Inbred Strains
• Receptors, GABA-A (drug effects, physiology)
• Uremia (complications)