Effect of long term diazepam administration on testicular benzodiazepine receptors and steroidogenesis. |
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Authors: | D J Calvo M B Campos R S Calandra J H Medina M N Ritta |
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Institution: | Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Buenos Aires, Argentina. |
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Abstract: | We evaluated the effect of acute and chronic diazepam administration on testicular peripheral type benzodiazepine receptors (PBZD-R), serum testosterone and LH levels and the "in vitro" androgen production in response to Ro 5-4864, a PBZD-R agonist. The chronic diazepam treatment induced a significant fall in plasma testosterone concentration while LH levels remained unchanged. The number of PBZD-R was reduced by 37% and low concentrations (10(-8)-10(-6) M) of Ro 5-4864 failed to stimulate "in vitro" androgen production. The acute diazepam administration caused a significant increase in plasma testosterone levels while no changes were observed in LH concentrations and testicular PBZD-R. These results further suggest a modulatory role of PBZD-R on testicular steroidogenic activity. |
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