Induction in the rat hippocampus of long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) in the presence of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor.
Several recent studies have suggested a critical role for nitric oxide (NO) production in hippocampal LTP and LTD. In this study we show that normal LTP and LTD can be induced in rat hippocampal slices incubated in the NO synthase inhibitor L-NG-nitroarginine (NOArg) (100 microM). A test of NMDA-stimulated cGMP production demonstrated that incubation of slices in 100 microM NOArg effectively inhibited NO synthase. Our results suggest that NO synthase activity may not be required for the generation of LTP or LTD in CA1 of rat hippocampus.
Cummings
J A
JA
Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of California at San Francisco, Langley Porter Psychiatric Institute 94143-0984.
Nicola
S M
SM
Malenka
R C
RC
D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005071:Evoked Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation / Q000187:drug effects*; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009474:Neurons / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019335:Nitroarginine; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors
D019335:Nitroarginine; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D006152:Cyclic GMP