Benzodiazepines suppress the light response of retinal dopaminergic neurons in vivo
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Updated: Aug 15, 2026

A Novel Light Damage Paradigm for Use in Retinal Regeneration Studies in Adult Zebrafish
Published on: October 24, 2013
Abstract:
Sedative dosages of the benzodiazepine, diazepam (76 micro mol/kg, i.p.), reduce the light-evoked increase in retinal dopamine turnover, while intraocular applications of the water-soluble benzodiazepine, flurazepam (0.50 or 1.0 micro mol/eyeball), produce a dose-dependent suppression of light-enhanced dopamine synthesis. These results provide the first evidence that the benzodiazepines alter a physiologically important retinal response in vivo. They also suggest that some the visual effects produced by the benzodiazepines may have an intraretinal locus of action.
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