Inhibition of NO synthase activity in nervous tissue leads to decreased motor activity in the rat
Language English Country Czech Republic Media print
Document type Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PubMed
10805416
Knihovny.cz E-resources
- MeSH
- Enzyme Inhibitors pharmacology MeSH
- Rats MeSH
- Spinal Cord drug effects enzymology physiology MeSH
- Cerebellum enzymology MeSH
- Brain drug effects enzymology physiology MeSH
- Cerebral Cortex enzymology MeSH
- NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester pharmacology MeSH
- Motor Activity drug effects MeSH
- Rats, Wistar MeSH
- Nitric Oxide Synthase antagonists & inhibitors metabolism MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Rats MeSH
- Male MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Enzyme Inhibitors MeSH
- NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester MeSH
- Nitric Oxide Synthase MeSH
The nitric oxide/cGMP system has been shown to play a crucial role in the mechanism of learning and memory. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether the inhibition of NO synthase in brain regions leads to alterations of spontaneous behavior in rats. Male Wistar rats were treated with NO synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) at the dose of 40 mg/kg/day. After 4 weeks of L-NAME treatment, NO synthase activity was significantly decreased by 75% in the cerebellum, by 71% in the cerebral cortex and by 72% in the thoracic spinal cord. Decreased NO synthase activity in the nervous tissue was associated with decreased motor horizontal and vertical activities as well as by lowered frequency of sniffing, cleaning and defecation. It is concluded that the inhibition of NO synthase activity has a suppressive effect on spontaneous behavior of rats.
