title: L-arginine modulates morphine-induced changes in locomotion in mice.
abstract: In mice opioids increase dopaminergic turnover in nucleus striatum and nucleus accumbens, causing behavioural changes such as increased locomotion. In this study we have shown that L-arginine administration increases morphine-induced locomotion in mice. D-Arginine had not effect, suggesting a stereospecific mechanism. Furthermore NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a specific inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, reduced morphine-induced effect. These results suggest that endogenous nitric oxide could play a role in the modulation of dopaminergic effects elicited by morphine.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Farmacologia Sperimentale, Università degli Studi Federico II, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calignano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Persico
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mancuso
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sorrentino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000502:physiology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D009020:Morphine; D001120:Arginine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D004298:Dopamine