[Chronically administered midazolam does not have neurodegenerative effects]

The effects of midazolam on the dorso- and ventromedial nuclei of the hypothalamus, administered during 120 days via gastric intubation, was studied in two groups of Wistar rats. The rats (50) of one of the groups were 2 months old, and those of the other (50) 24 months, 20 rats of both groups received 1 mg/kg of midazolam, and the other 20, 3 mg/kg As controls 20 rats of the same strain and age (10 for each group) received only saline. Neuronal count and karyometry did not revealed significant differences between controls and experimental rats. Only the group of old rats showed a slight increase in the number of dark neurons, with a decrease in the karyometric index.