The Ro 15-1788 cue: evidence for benzodiazepine agonist and inverse agonist properties.

Rats discriminating Ro 15-1788 (10 mg/kg, i.p.) from vehicle completely generalized this cue to typical benzodiazepines, and partially generalized it to barbiturates, pentylenetetrazol, CGS 8216, beta-CCM and PK 8165. CL 218872, Ro 5-4864, phenytoine, progabide, propranolol, yohimbine and various CNS stimulants predominantly induced vehicle-appropriate responding. Chlordiazepoxide, pentobarbital, CL 218 872, PK 8165, pentylenetetrazol, CGS 8216 and beta-CCM failed to block the Ro 15-1788 cue. Generalization to both anxiolytics/anticonvulsants and anxiogenics/(pro) convulsants suggests that Ro 15-1788 has benzodiazepine agonist and inverse agonist properties.