[Mechanism of the effect of diazepam on acetylcholine concentration in mouse brain].

Intraperitoneal injection of diazepam (20 mg/kg) caused an increase of free and bound acetylcholine in the mouse brain. Diazepam pretreatment (20 mg/kg) increased galanthamine anticholinesterase activity and its toxicity; as to physostigmine, armine, and paraoxon toxicity--it remained unchanged. It is supposed that diazepam blocks the release of aetylcholine from the cholinergic nerve terminals which should result in a decrease of functional acetylcholine concentrations in the synapse.