Abstract: AIM: To observe the effects of flumazenil (Flu) on amnestic effect induced by etomidate in mice. METHODS: 48 Kunming mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: NS+intralipid (Z) Group, NS+etomidate (Eto) Group, Flu+Z Group, Flu+Eto Group. All mice were given Flu(0.1 mg/kg)or NS(0.1 mL/10 g) by subcutaneous injection 20 min before training, then mice in all groups were administered intralipid (0.12 mL/10 g) or Eto (3 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal injection 5 min before training. All mice were then conducted to take step-down test and step-through test. The latency of step through and step down as well as the errortimes were observed to evaluated the effects of flumazenil on the amnestic effect induced by etomidate. RESULTS: Etomidate significantly increased error times and shortened the step down latency and step through latency of mouse. CONCLUSION: Benzodiazepines (BDZ) receptor may be an important target for the amnestic effect induced by etomidate.

Key words: Flumazenil, Etomidate, Learning and memory, Step-down test, Step-through test