Diazepam suppresses sleep apneas in rats.

Abstract

To test the respiratory effects of benzodiazepines in an established animal model of central apnea, we administered nonhypnotic and hypnotic doses of diazepam to nine adult male Sprague-Dawley rats chronically instrumented for sleep staging. In random order on separate days, rats were recorded following intraperitoneal injection of: (1) saline; (2) 0.05 mg/kg diazepam; or (3) 5 mg/kg diazepam. Normalized inspiratory minute ventilation increased significantly during wakefulness and non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep following each dose of diazepam (p < 0.003 in each case) and following the highest dose during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep (p = 0.01). In accord with this respiratory stimulation, non-REM-related spontaneous and post-sigh apnea expression decreased following each dose of diazepam (p = 0.006 to 0.04), but REM-related apnea expression was unaffected despite significant respiratory stimulation. The durations of non-REM and REM sleep were unaffected by the low dose, but following 5 mg/kg of diazepam non-REM sleep was increased (p = 0.03) and REM sleep was decreased (p = 0.009). We conclude that both hypnotic and non-hypnotic doses of benzodiazepines may be associated with suppression of sleep-related central apnea. We further conclude that non-REM and REM-related apneas arise from at least partially distinct mechanisms.

• Authors: D W Carley, S M Trbovic, M Radulovacki
• Journal: American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine (Am J Respir Crit Care Med) Vol. 157 Issue 3 Pt 1 Pg. 917-20 (Mar 1998) ISSN: 1073-449X [Print] United States
• PMID: 9517612 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Hypnotics and Sedatives
• Sodium Chloride
• Diazepam

Topics

• Analysis of Variance
• Animals
• Diazepam (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Electroencephalography
• Electromyography
• Hypnotics and Sedatives (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Inhalation (drug effects)
• Injections, Intraperitoneal
• Male
• Plethysmography
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Respiration (drug effects)
• Sleep Apnea Syndromes (physiopathology, prevention & control)
• Sleep Stages (drug effects)
• Sleep, REM (drug effects)
• Sodium Chloride
• Time Factors
• Wakefulness (drug effects)