[Action of benzodiazepines on the immune response]

The action of benzodiazepine receptor agonists--diazepam and tazepam--on the immune response was studied in CBA mice. It has been shown that benzodiazepine at low doses of 0.5 and 1 mg/kg stimulates and at a dose of 8 mg/kg suppresses the rosette-forming reaction to immunization with 5 X 10(8) sheep red blood cells. Diazepam and tazepam fail to change the immune response if the immunization dose is 5 X 10(6). The dose-dependent effect of diazepine (ranging from stimulation to inhibition) may be caused by different benzodiazepine receptors involved in the process. It is suggested that a certain intensity of the immune response is needed for the manifestation of the immune modulating action of benzodiazepine.