ISSN:
1432-2072
Keywords:
Cholecystokinin
;
CCK
;
Panic disorder
;
Panic attacks
;
Anxiety
;
Benzodiazepine receptors
;
Flumazenil
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract The neuropeptide cholecystokinin-tetrapeptide (CCK-4) has potent anxiogenic action in human and animal subjects. On the basis of prior work which demonstrated that benzodiazepine (BZD) receptor agonists antagonized CCK-induced excitation of rat hippocampal neurons we studied whether BZD receptors mediated the anxiogenic effect of CCK-4. To examine this possibility we determined whether the BZD receptor antagonist flumazenil could antagonize the effects of CCK-4 (50 µg) in healthy volunteers. Thirty subjects (10 females; 20 males) were pretreated with flumazenil (2 mg in saline) or placebo (0.9% NaCl in water) 15 min prior to CCK-4 challenge in a randomized double-blind crossover design. Flumazenil had no impact on the behavioral and cardiovascular effects of CCK-4, suggesting that BZD receptors do not mediate the anxiogenic action of CCK-4. The influence of GABA and non-GABA-related mechanisms on response to CCK-4 remains to be considered.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02244846
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