Ro 15-4513, a partial inverse agonist for benzodiazepine recognition sites, has proconflict and proconvulsant effects in the rat.

The present report describes the effects of Ro 15-4513 (ethyl-8-azido-5,6-dihydro-5-methyl-6-oxo-4H-imidazo-(1,5-a) (1,4)-benzodiazepine-3-carboxylate) in the conflict test, on convulsions induced by isoniazid and DMCM (methyl-6,7-dimethoxy-4-ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate) and on the binding of [3H]gamma-aminobutyric acid ([3H]GABA) to rat brain membrane preparations. Ro 15-4513 produced a dose-dependent proconflict effect that was prevented by the administration of the benzodiazepine antagonist, Ro 15-1788. In addition, Ro 15-4513 was not convulsant per se but enhanced the convulsions produced by isoniazid and completely blocked the convulsions induced by the full inverse agonist, DMCM. In vitro, Ro 15-4513, like ethyl-beta-carboline-3-carboxylate (beta CCE), antagonized the increase in [3H]GABA binding induced by diazepam. The results indicate that Ro 15-4513 is anxiogenic and interacts with benzodiazepine recognition sites as a partial inverse agonist.