Mechanisms of L-NG-nitro arginine methyl ester-induced antinociception in mice: a role for serotonergic and adrenergic neurons.
1. The mechanisms involved in the antinociceptive action of L-NG-nitro arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) were investigated in mice. 2. Intraperitoneal administration of L-NAME produced a dose-dependent antinociception in the tail-flick, hot-plate and phenyl-p-quinone-induced writhing tests. 3. Pretreatment with the catecholamine depletors 6-hydroxydopamine (5 micrograms i.c.v.) or reserpine (5 mg/kg i.p.) or the serotonin synthesis inhibitor, p-chlorophenylalanine methyl ester (200 mg/kg i.p. on 2 consecutive days) resulted in a significant decrease in the antinociceptive effect of L-NAME. 4. Similarly, pretreatment with the selective alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazonin (2.5 mg/kg, i.p.), or the non-selective alpha-adrenoceptor blocker, phentolamine (5 mg/kg, i.p.) antagonized the antinociceptive effect of L-NAME. 5. However, the administration of the selective alpha 2-adrenoceptor antagonist, idazoxan (2.5 mg/kg i.p.) was without effect. 6. Likewise, pretreatment with the serotonin 5-HT2 receptor blocker, ketanserin (1 mg/kg, i.p.), the D2 dopamine receptor antagonist (+/-) sulpiride (30 mg/kg, i.p.) or the opioid antagonist naloxone (5 mg/kg, i.p.) did not inhibit the antinociceptive effect of L-NAME. 7. These results suggest that L-NAME produces antinociception in the mouse probably by an action on adrenergic and serotonergic synapses.
Department of Medical Pharmacology (31), College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Mustafa
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000494:pharmacology; D004298:Dopamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D010134:Fenclonine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000700:Analgesics; D016227:Benzoquinones; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D012701:Serotonin; C029322:phenylbenzoquinone; D016627:Oxidopamine; D001120:Arginine; D010134:Fenclonine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D004298:Dopamine; D009638:Norepinephrine