ANTI-ANXIETY ACTION OF DIAZEPAM AFTER INTRA-AMYGDALOID APPLICATION IN THE RAT

The anti-anxiety effect of diazepam seen after systemic administration can also be evoked by direct intraamygdaloid application of the drug. This action is dose-related and fully reversible. Bilateral injection of 2×25 μg of diazepam exerts quantitatively about the same degree of anti-anxiety effect as does l mg/kg given intraperitoneally. Our previous experiments have shown that the main site of the tranquillizing as well as of the anti-convulsant action of diazepam is the amygdaloid complex. The present findings indicate that, most probably, the amygdaloid nucleus plays a crucial part also in the anti-anxiety effect of diazepam. © 1979.