Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis impairs two different forms of learning.
Nitric oxide (NO), an intercellular messenger in the central nervous system of vertebrates, plays an important role in the establishment of synaptic plasticity. In order to investigate the role of NO and synaptic plasticity in learning, we injected rats and rabbits with the NO synthase inhibitor nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) prior to training on two tests of learning. Rats treated with L-NAME were impaired in learning a spatial learning task, while rabbits given the NO synthase inhibitor demonstrated learning deficits in the conditioned eyeblink response. The results support the hypothesis that NO plays a critical role in acquisition of two different forms of learning.
Chapman
P F
PF
Department of Psychology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
Atkins
C M
CM
Allen
M T
MT
Haley
J E
JE
Steinmetz
J E
JE
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004924:Escape Reaction / Q000187:drug effects; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012016:Reference Values; D013028:Space Perception / Q000187:drug effects; D013237:Stereoisomerism
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester