Nitric oxide is required for tactile learning in Octopus vulgaris.
Nitric oxide, produced by nitric oxide synthase in brain tissue, is essential for several different kinds of learning in vertebrates. We present the first evidence that it is also essential for learning in an invertebrate. Intramuscular injections of an inhibitor of the enzyme completely block touch learning in Octopus vulgaris. Eight control animals learned a touch paradigm, but none of eight synthase-inhibited ones learned it.
Robertson
J D
JD
Department of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710.
Bonaventura
J
J
Kohm
A P
AP
D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D003213:Conditioning, Psychological; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D049831:Octopodiformes / Q000502:physiology*; D014110:Touch; D014714:Vertebrates
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester