Abstract
We determined the effect of chronic continuous diazepam treatment on the spectral content of the EEG in rats. Diazepam was administered for 21 days using subcutaneously implanted silastic tubes, resulting in constant blood concentrations. Diazepam caused a decrease in the power of the low frequency bands (1-8 Hz) and an increase in the power of the high frequency bands (21-40 Hz). These changes persisted during 21 days of treatment and were no longer detected in a post drug control measurement on the 9th day after removing the tubes. No tolerance developed to the effect of diazepam on the spectral content of the EEG. This indicates that in 21 days there is no decline in the effect of interaction of diazepam with the GABA(A) - benzodiazepine receptor complexes responsible for the power spectrum changes.
