Abstract
Rohypnol and alcohol abuse is often reported among young people. Rohypnol is often abused voluntarily to erase memory of indulgence. It is also used in perpetuating crime such as in rape cases when the perpetrator administers certain doses of rohypnol to make the victim lose the memory of such event. Interestingly, young people often abuse alcohol and rohypnol. While the former is often used as a social drug, the latter is combined in certain instances to erase or reduce the memory of such. A number of literatures exist on the effects of alcohol on heath, brain and mind; but not a good number of investigations have considered the effects of rohypnol on hippocampal structure as well as the nature of its effects when combined with alcohol. This particular investigation is aimed at modelling rohypnol and alcohol abuse and resultant effects on hippocampal histoarchitecture and biochemicals in Wistar rats. Forty eight [n=48] adult male Wistar rats were divided into six groups, A-F. Group A served as the control Group B received the low dose of flunitrazepam; Group C received the high dose of flunitrazepam; Group D received the low dose of alcohol; Group E received the high dose of alcohol; Group F received the low dose of flunitrazepam and alcohol. Experiment lasted 21 days and animals were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Results showed that the two substances did not produce extensive structural disruption of the hippocampus. However, specific regions of the hippocampus showed morphological aberrations, resulting in mild heterogeneity. Also, the enzyme chemistry of the hippocampus cytochrome C oxidase and G6PDH enzymes was altered.
Highlights
Flunitrazepam, trade name Rohypnol, is a central nervous system depressant in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines used in some countries to treat severe cases of insomnia. (Geller 1991)
The results of this study suggested that impairments in memory resulted from the dose of FNZ, and that there is a possibility of a relationship between memory disturbance and REM sleep suppression caused by this benzodiazepine
Nissl bodies are demonstrated across the Rohypnol and alcohol treated animals groups relatively normal when compromised with the control Group A
Summary
Flunitrazepam, trade name Rohypnol, is a central nervous system depressant in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines used in some countries to treat severe cases of insomnia. (Geller 1991). Flunitrazepam is referred to as a “date rape drug”. Flunitrazepam was discovered by Roche as part of the benzodiazepine work led by Leo Sternbach; the patent application was filed in 1962 and it was first marketed in 1974 [1]. Flunitrazepam is illegal in the USA but is available in Mexico. In some instances, it is used as sedative before surgery in part because it causes amnesia [2]. It is used as sedative before surgery in part because it causes amnesia [2] People administered with this drug do not remember the surgery and circumstances surrounding it [3]. Street names for rehypnol include Roofies, Rophies, Rope, Roach, Roach-2, Roche, Roapies, Robutal, Row-shay, Ruffles, Wolfies, La Rocha, Lunch Money Drug, R-2, Mexican Valium, Circles, Pingus, Forget Me Pill [4]
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