Pérez, Mariela F.Nasif, Fernando J.Marchesini, Gerardo R.Maglio, Laura E.Ramírez, Oscar A.2025-12-152025-12-152001-07-08Pérez, Mariela F, et al. «Hippocampus and Locus Coeruleus Activity on Rats Chronically Treated with Diazepam». Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior, vol. 69, n.o 3-4, julio de 2001, pp. 431-38. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0091-3057(01)00517-2.10.1016/s0091-3057(01)00517-2https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/128897Abstract The neural mechanisms underlying benzodiazepine (BZD) dependence remain equivocal. The present studies tested the hypothesis that similar neural circuitry might be involved in the effects of chronic 7-chloro-1-methyl-5-phenyl-3H-1,4-benzodiazepine-2(1H)-one, diazepam (DZ, Roche), administration and withdrawal. The results of our study showed an increased hippocampal synaptic plasticity in slices from rats chronically treated with DZ (5 mg/kg/18 days), assessed as a decrease of the threshold in the stimulation rate for long-term potentiation (LTP) elicitation. Rats with the same schedule of DZ administration but without signs of withdrawal behaved similarly to vehicle-treated ones (VEH), in the threshold to induce LTP. Furthermore, the activity of locus coeruleus (LC) norepinephrine (NE) neurons in rats tested 24 h after the last DZ injection showed a significant increase. On the other hand, rats that after chronic DZ administration did not develop signs of withdrawal and exhibited a similar pattern of discharge on LC-NE nucleus compared with their controls. We conclude that chronic DZ administration enhances both hippocampal synaptic plasticity and activity of LC-NE neurons. This neural system could be the biological substrate underlying the behavioral alterations accompanying chronic DZ administration and withdrawal.engjournal articlehttps://doi.org/10.1016/s0091-3057(01)00517-211509201https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091305701005172restricted access615HippocampusSynaptic plasticityLocus coeruleusNoradrenergic transmissionWithdrawalDependenceBenzodiazepineFarmacología (Farmacia)3209.09 Psicofarmacología