Flumazenil antagonizes the suppressive effect of midazolam on the somatosensory evoked potentials in the rat.

The effect of flumazenil, a specific benzodiazepine antagonist, on the midazolam-induced suppression of somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) following strong electrical stimulation of the upper lip was investigated in Wistar albino rats. The averaged SEPs were recorded from the contralateral surface of the skull in the temporal area. Each rat received midazolam in a dose of 10 mg/kg intraperitoneally. Five min after midazolam injection, the relative amplitude of the P1N1 wave of the SEPs was reduced significantly. A 0.5 mg dose of flumazenil or physiological saline was injected intraperitoneally 7.5 min after midazolam injection. The P1N1 amplitude recovered rapidly to the control value in the flumazenil group but not in the physiological saline group. No significant differences were found in the latencies of the P1 and N1 peaks before or after midazolam or flumazenil injection. It is suggested that flumazenil strongly antagonizes the midazolam-induced suppression of SEPs in the rat.