[Effect of clonazepam on neuronal activity in the sensomotor cortex of rat brain]

In tests on flaxedyl immobilized rats the effect of clonazepam on the action produced by gamma-aminobutyric acid, acetylcholine and L-glutamate, delivered microionophoretically to neurons of the sensomotor brain cortex, was investigated. Clonazepam was found to potentiate the inhibiting action of gamma-aminobutyric acid and reduce the exciting effect of acetylcholine and L-glutamate on the spontaneous neuronal activity. The ability of clonazepam, like other tranquilizers of the benzodiazepine series, to augment the sensitivity of the receptive neurons formations to gamma-aminobutyric acid and also influence the ionic permeability of the post-synaptic membrane is suggested.