Chronic treatment with Ro 15-1788 distinguishes between its benzodiazepine antagonist, agonist and inverse agonist properties.

Ro 15-1788 (flumazepil) is an imidazodiazepine that is able to antagonise most of the behavioural actions of the benzodiazepines, as well as having some intrinsic effects. Acute administration of Ro 15-1788 (10 mg/kg) decreases social interaction between male rats and elevates exploratory head-dipping. After 5 days of pretreatment there was tolerance to the former effect, although Ro 15-1788 retained its ability to antagonise the effects on social interaction of the beta-carboline, FG 7142. Ro 15-1788 also retained its ability to elevate head-dipping: additionally, the chronically-treated rats had elevated motor activity and rearing scores. The acute effects of lorazepam in the holeboard were unchanged by chronic pretreatment with Ro-15-1788. The plasma and brain concentrations after acute administration of lorazepam were unchanged following chronic administration of Ro 15-1788. After chronic treatment the brain concentrations of Ro 15-1788 were unchanged. It is unlikely that pharmacokinetic factors could underlie the different behavioural changes following chronic treatment.