werner@aecom.UUCP (Craig Werner) (03/16/85)
OK, I started net.valium with my little press release. I might as well follow-up: A MECHANISM FOR VALIUM: It has recently been found (we're talking published two weeks ago - _Science_ 22 February 1985, p. 934 "'Anxiety Peptide' Found in Brain." This newly discovered peptide, found in the Hypothalamus and Amygdala of the Brain (Important for emotions), appears to increase anxiety - just the opposite of valium - and its presence lessens the binding of Valium, which suggests that the two compete for the same receptors. What does this peptide do? It counteracts the effect of a neuro- transmitter called GABA which is used in Inhibitory Neurons - both in the cortex and in the spinal cord (read primary motor neurons in the spinal cord.) Since Valium prevents this peptide from antagonizing the inhibitor, GABA works better - which means Muscles relax (their contraction is inhibited slightly.) Also, since this peptide stimulates the anxiety centers in the Brain, blockage of it by Valium decreases anxiety, again by allowing GABA to inhibit the appropriate neurons. So, while there was no way apriori of linking Valium's effects - at the chemical level it is very simple. Everything that GABA would do, Valium allows it to to better. -- Craig Werner !philabs!aecom!werner What do you expect? Watermelons are out of season!