title: Endogenous nitric oxide modulates morphine-induced changes in locomotion and food intake in mice.
abstract: Opioids increase the dopaminergic turnover in nucleus striatum and nucleus accumbens of mice, causing behavioural changes such as increased locomotion and food intake. We have now shown that L-arginine administration increases morphine-induced locomotion and changes in food intake in mice. D-Arginine had no effect, suggesting a stereospecific mechanism. Furthermore NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, a specific inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, reduced the morphine-induced effects. These results suggest that endogenous nitric oxide could play a role in the modulation of dopaminergic effects elicited by morphine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Pharmacology, University of Naples Federico II, 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; D001067:Appetite Depressants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D001067:Appetite Depressants; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D009020:Morphine; D001120:Arginine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester