Effects of clonazepam on blood glucose levels and serum lipids in hyperlipidemic rats and interactions with PK 11195 and flumazenil

In Triton WR-1339-induced hyperlipidemia in albino rats, the intraperitoneal administration of clonazepam induced significant reductions in blood glucose levels (for a certain dose) and serum lipids. These phenomena could be antagonized by PK 11195, a peripheral-type benzodiazepine selective antagonist, but not by flumazenil (Ro 151788), a selective antagonist of the central benzodiazepine receptors. Moreover, flumazenil induced changes similar to those elicited by clonazepam, which could be antagonized by PK 11195. From these results, the following conclusions could be drawn: (1) the effects of clonazepam are due to the stimulation of the peripheral-type benzodiazepine receptors; (2) flumazenil behaves like clonazepam, at least in this experimental setting.