Impact of diazepam on pineal-adrenal axis in an avian model

Diazepam, a benzodiazepine derivative, better known as a melatonin blocker in mammals, was injected into pigeons at a dose of 3 mg/kg body weight/day for 1 h, 1 day, 7 days and 15 days. This was done to investigate whether diazepam-induced changes in the pineal gland were reflected in the functioning of the adrenal gland. The results indicated that diazepam caused inhibition of pineal function and the degree of inhibition was very much time dependent. In addition, the pineal gland was unable to modulate the adrenomedullary hormonal titre yet it considerably influenced the physiology of the adrenal cortex.