Valium Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Valium, including details on diazepam, depression, side-effects, withdrawal.

Sedative and anticonvulsant effects of zolpidem in adult and aged mice.

Peričić D, Vlainić J, Strac DS

Laboratory for Molecular Neuropharmacology, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Bošković Institute, P.O. Box 180, 10002, Zagreb, Croatia, pericic@irb.hr.

To evaluate the possible age-related differences in the behavioral effects of zolpidem, a widely used hypnotic, we compared the effects of zolpidem on the locomotor activity and on the seizure threshold for pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) and picrotoxin (given by i.v. infusion) between adult (3 months) and aged (13 months) mice. Zolpidem (10 mg/kg) produced similar enhancements of the seizure threshold in adult and aged mice. The drug was more potent against PTZ- than against picrotoxin-induced seizures. Diazepam (1 mg/kg), which was taken for comparison, had a weaker effect on picrotoxin-induced tonic seizures in aged than in adult mice. Sedative effect of zolpidem (10 mg/kg), as assessed by its effect on the locomotor activity, was very strong in both groups of mice. The results suggest that sedative and antiseizure effects of zolpidem are not changed in aged mice.

Published 4 June 2008 in J Neural Transm, 115(6): 795-802.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2004-2008 Valium Research Today. All Rights Reserved.