Preventive effect of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine against L-cysteine-induced seizures in mice.
The effect of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (NNA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase on L-cysteine- induced neurotoxicity was investigated in mice. When L-cysteine (1, 2.5, 5 or 10 micromol/brain) was injected intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) in mice, severe tonic seizures were observed for over 20 s in the treated mice in a dose-dependent manner. However, the tonic seizures induced by L-Cysteine were prevented by pretreatment with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine. Although L-cysteine (0.5, 1, 2.5, 5, 10 micromol/brain, i.c.v.) also caused a wild running (WR), NNA did not affect behavior. These results suggest that an overproduction of NO may be involve in the development of tonic seizures but not WR induced by L-cysteine.
Yamamoto
H
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Department of Environmental Medicine, Institute of Community Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
D000818:Animals; D000931:Antidotes; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D003545:Cysteine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D019335:Nitroarginine; D012640:Seizures / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000931:Antidotes; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019335:Nitroarginine; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D003545:Cysteine