N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester interferes with pentylenetetrazol-induced kindling and has no effect on changes in glutamate binding.
The effects of N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, on seizure development and processes of glutamate neurotransmission were studied in the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-kindled rats. For this purpose, a dose of 10 mg/kg L-NAME was injected prior to the 13 kindling stimulations. Eight days after the final injection, glutamate binding to brain membranes was measured. It was shown that L-NAME suppressed the kindling development significantly. Furthermore, L-NAME-pretreated rats showed lower seizure scores in reaction to a challenge dose of PTZ. However, glutamate binding was not changed by the pretreatment. The data suggest an involvement of NO in the mechanisms related with kindling.
O.-v.-Guericke University, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Magdeburg, Germany.
A
A
Becker
G
G
Grecksch
H
H
Schröder
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D003292:Convulsants / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018698:Glutamic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic / Q000187:drug effects*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D051381:Rats
D003292:Convulsants; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018698:Glutamic Acid; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D010433:Pentylenetetrazole