Effects of chronic treatment with benzodiazepine receptor ligands on cortical adrenoceptors.

We report the effects of kindling with the benzodiazepine partial inverse agonist, FG 7142 on adrenoceptor binding in mouse cerebral cortex. Twelve once-daily injections of FG 7142 caused a statistically significant increase in the density of both alpha 2- and beta-adrenoceptor binding sites, seven days after the last injection. Despite the marked effects of FG 7142 on adrenoceptors, there were no changes in either alpha 2- or beta-adrenoceptor binding after prolonged treatment with the benzodiazepine, flurazepam.