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Effects of GABAergic agonists and antagonists on various ethanol-induced behavioral changes

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Abstract

The interaction between ethanol and various GABAergic drugs (muscimol, bicuculline, picrotoxin) with regard to their effects on locomotor activity, drug-induced sleep, body temperature, and convulsions was studied. It was demonstrated that the GABA receptor agonist muscimol potentiated the sedative properties of ethanol, while the opposite effect, a reduction of ethanol-produced sedation, was seen upon administration of the GABA receptor blocking agent picrotoxin. Consequently, the results from the present series of experiments indicate that ethanol enhances central GABAergic activity.

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Liljequist, S., Engel, J. Effects of GABAergic agonists and antagonists on various ethanol-induced behavioral changes. Psychopharmacology 78, 71–75 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00470592

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