[GABA-ergic mechanism of action of diazepam on cerebral cortex neurons].

The effect of diazepam, depakin, thiosemicarbazide (TSC) and bicucullin on the spontaneous and incuced (by stimulation of the sciatic nerve) activity of the cells of the sensory-motor cortex was studied on the unanesthetized immobilized (curarized) albino rats. Diazepam proved to intensify the inhibitory phenomena, i.e. decreased the frequency of spontaneous discharges and prolonged the postactivation depression of the neuron impulsation (the inhibitory pause. Depakin increasing the GABA content in the brain acted similarly. The GABA-ergic receptors blocker, bicucullin and TSC, decreasing its content, on the contrary, weakened the inhibitory phenomena. There was also revealed a reversible antagonism between diazepam and bicucullin in their effect on the neuronal activity. The data obtained confirmed the supposition put forward formerly on the capacity of diazepam to intensify the effect of GABA on the neurons of the cerebral cortex.