Interactions of Ro15-4513, Ro15-1788 (flumazenil) and ethanol on measures of exploration and locomotion in rats.

The present study investigated the role of the GABAA-benzodiazepine (BDZ) receptor complex in mediating ethanol (ETOH)-induced increases in exploration (head-dipping) and locomotion of rats in a holeboard test. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were selected based on low basal exploratory rates to increase the likelihood that ETOH would increase these behaviors. The effects of the BDZ partial inverse agonist, Ro15-4513 (2.5 mg/kg), and the BDZ receptor antagonist, Ro15-1788 (flumazenil) (8.0 mg/kg), alone, and in combination with ETOH (0.25, 0.50 and 0.75 g/kg, IP) were investigated. The 0.25 and 0.50 g/kg doses of ETOH markedly increased both exploration and locomotion in low exploratory rats. The ETOH-induced increases were prevented by Ro15-4513 on both measures at a dose that produced no observable intrinsic action; however, this apparent lack of intrinsic activity on exploration may have been related to the low basal rates of responding in the subjects. The BDZ antagonist, flumazenil, completely reversed the antagonistic action produced by Ro15-4513 of the ETOH-induced stimulant effects on locomotion, however, flumazenil exerted only a marginal statistically significant effect on Ro15-4513's actions on head-dipping. When flumazenil was given alone, it increased head-dipping, but was without effect on locomotion. Flumazenil did not affect ETOH-induced increases in locomotion; however, ETOH and flumazenil appeared to show agonistic effects on exploration. The different effects exerted by flumazenil alone, and in combination with ETOH on head-dipping and locomotion suggest that the actions of flumazenil on these behaviors are mediated through separate mechanisms. The research further suggests that both the anxiolytic and locomotor activational effects of ETOH are mediated through the GABAA-BDZ receptor complex.