Inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) production selectively impairs learning and memory in the rat.
Animals administered the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor N-w-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (NAME) for five days exhibited severe deficits in acquisition of a place-navigation learning task. The effect of NAME was selective to place-navigation learning. NAME had no effect on sensorimotor or motivational processes in a related task. These results are consistent with the view that NO participates in learning and execution of memory tasks.
Estall
L B
LB
Department of Psychology, University of Delaware, Newark 19716.
Grant
S J
SJ
Cicala
G A
GA
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003463:Cues; D007858:Learning / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects*; D009042:Motivation; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013028:Space Perception / Q000187:drug effects
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester