Bi-directional changes in sham feeding in the rat produced by benzodiazepine receptor ligands.

Both the real and sham intake of a 5% sucrose solution were increased by midazolam (3 mg/kg IP), a benzodiazepine agonist. In contrast, both the real and sham intakes of a 20% sucrose solution were reduced by Ro15-3505 (a benzodiazepine antagonist with weak inverse agonist properties) and by FG 7142 (a beta-carboline inverse agonist). These data demonstrate that drugs acting at benzodiazepine receptors can bi-directionally alter ingestional responses, probably by modulation of the oropharyngeal control of consumption.