Science 1983-01-28

A benzodiazepine receptor antagonist decreases sleep and reverses the hypnotic actions of flurazepam.

W B Mendelson, M Cain, J M Cook, S M Paul, P Skolnick

Index: Science 219(4583) , 414-6, (1983)

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Abstract

The benzodiazepine receptor antagonist 3-hydroxymethyl-beta-carboline, which blocks several of the pharmacological actions of benzodiazepines, induces a dose-dependent increase in sleep latency in the rat. Furthermore, at a low dose that by itself does not affect sleep, 3-hydroxymethyl-beta-carboline blocks sleep induction by a large dose of flurazepam. The benzodiazepine receptor may play a role in both the physiological regulation and pharmacological induction of sleep.