Participation of 5-hydroxytryptamine in anticonvulsive action of benzodiazepines.

The influence of several compounds activating or producing hypofunction of the serotonergic system was studied on the convulsive threshold and anticonvulsive action of benzodiazepines (chlordiazepoxide, diazepam, oxazepam, nitrazepam) in the pentylenetetrazol test. No changes in the convulsive threshold either for clonic, nor for tonic phase were found. However, the anticonvulsive action of benzodiazepines was enhanced by 5-hydroxytryptophan, 5-methoxytryptamine (given together with pargyline), or fenfluramine. p-Chlorophenylalanine and methergoline did not affect, but cyproheptadine enhanced the anticonvulsive action of most of benzodiazepines tested.