The influence of prenatal diazepam treatment on the postnatal pattern of mouse brain Na, K-ATPase activity.

Pregnant mice were treated with 1 and 5 mg/kg/day diazepam, respectively, during five days of the second and of the last third of gestation. The activity of Na, K-ATPase was determined in the brains of their offspring. Diazepam, 5 mg/kg/day, caused changes in the developmental patterns of the enzyme activity which did not become evident before 16 days of age. As expected from the low doses of diazepam applied the effect on enzyme activity was moderate. It may, however, provide a biochemical correlate of altered behaviour.