A benzodiazepine antagonist does not alter the course of hepatic encephalopathy or neural gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) binding.

The progressive course of hepatic encephalopathy developing in rats after massive hepatic ischemia due to hepatic artery ligation within 48 hr of a portacaval shunt was not altered by the injection of a benzodiazepine antagonist, CGS 8216, in a dose that was sufficient to reverse diazepam-induced coma quickly. The onset of hepatic coma was shortened 20 to 25% by the antagonist, rather than being delayed, as would be expected if hepatic coma were due to a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-ergic effect. The neural binding of GABA by brains from rats in deep hepatic coma was unaffected by the injection of the benzodiazepine antagonist.