Decreased Serum Nitrate and Nitrite Levels in Diazepam Treated Rats

Use of diazepam (DP) has been shown to induce neurotoxic effects. Nitric oxide (NO) has been recently identified as a class of neurotransmitters and has been named as the molecule of the year 1993-94. We measured the NO pathway as its end products nitrite and nitrate (NO ‾ 3 / NO ‾ 2) in the serum of rats receiving 2 or 5 mg / kg body wt / animal / over 4 weeks (1 dose / week) by Greiss reaction method. DP decreased the serum NO ‾ 3 / NO ‾ 2 of rats indicating that this agent may lower the production of NO in rats in a dose and time dependent manner.