Benzodiazepines are synergic with gamma-aminobutyric acid. Microiontophoretic evidence

By means of microiontophoresis chlordiazepoxide (CDP) was applied to the neurons of rabbit sensorimotor cortex. CDP decreased the frequency of spontaneous electrical activity of all the neurons studied in a dose-dependent manner. During simultaneous CDP and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) application an additive effect of the agents was observed. No antagonism between CDP and GABA was found. Probable reasons for contradictory data obtained by different AA. dealing with benzodiazepine effect on GABA-ergic inhibitory processes are discussed.