Effects of alprazolam and clonidine on carbon dioxide-induced increases in anxiety rating in healthy human subjects
In order to investigate possible neurobiologic mechanisms underlying carbon dioxide-induced anxiety, the effects of oral alprazolam 0.75 mg and intravenous clonidine 2 mcg/kg on CO/sub 2/-induced increases in ratings of subjective anxiety, pulse rate, and ventilation were measured in healthy human subjects. Pretreatment with alprazolam but not with clonidine significantly reduced the CO/sub 2/-induced increases in ratings of anxiety. Neither drug altered CO/sub 2/-induced increases in pulse rate or ventilatory responses. Clonidine did produce potent sedative and hypotensive effects. The behavioral data suggest that the mechanisms through which CO/sub 2/ induces anxiety-like effects involve neural systems regulated by benzodiazepine receptors and, secondly, that they appear not to require normal functioning of noradrenergic systems. Carbon dioxide may provide a useful model system for identification of new drugs with anxiolytic properties.
- Research Organization:
- Yale Univ. School of Medicine, New Haven, CT (USA)
- OSTI ID:
- 5630946
- Journal Information:
- Life Sci.; (United States), Vol. 45:3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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ANTIHYPERTENSIVE AGENTS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBON DIOXIDE
TOXICITY
NERVOUS SYSTEM
SENSITIVITY
BEHAVIOR
MAN
NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES
RECEPTORS
ANIMALS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CARDIOVASCULAR AGENTS
CHALCOGENIDES
DISEASES
DRUGS
MAMMALS
MEMBRANE PROTEINS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PRIMATES
PROTEINS
VERTEBRATES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology