Experimental Studies on Effects of Diazepam on the Beta-endorphin

Abstract:

The current investigation demonstrates for the first time prenatal effects of Diazepam on beta-endorphin. The results of the experimental study show that multiple introduction of Diazepam in pregnant rats decreases plasma levels of beta-endorphin in the offspring of male rats and reduces the total number of pups born alive. Single application of Diazepam during pregnancy does not change as beta-endorphin in plasma and total number of live-born animals. The results in this study demonstrate for the first time that Diazepam affects prenatal development of an important for the organism peptide – beta-endorphin. Experimentally, it is also found that single dose of Diazepam of sexually mature male rats did not alter plasma beta-endorphin, in contrast to a decrease, which is reported 10 days after its application. In conclusion, the benzodiazepine anxiolytic agent Diazepam alteres the levels of beta-endorphin only after multiple administrations.