Transduction of the discriminative stimulus effects of zolpidem by GABA(A)/alpha1 receptors.

Zolpidem is an imidazopyridine with high affinity at gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) (GABA(A)) receptors expressing alpha1 subunits. In squirrel monkeys trained to discriminate a high dose of zolpidem (> or =3.0 mg/kg) from saline, zolpidem and another GABA(A)/alpha1 receptor-preferring agonist, zaleplon, substituted dose-dependently for zolpidem, whereas the non-selective agonists diazepam and triazolam were did not substitute at any dose tested. These findings offer the first evidence for a selective role of GABA(A)/alpha1 receptors in the interoceptive effects of high doses of zolpidem.