L-NOARG, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, induces catalepsy in mice.
The objective of this study was to investigate possible motor effects of NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. Acute administration of L-NOARG (5-80 mg kg-1, i.p.) induced catalepsy in a dose-dependent manner in male albino-Swiss mice. The drug had an additive effect with haloperidol (0.125-0.5 mg kg-1, i.p.). The acute effect of L-NOARG (40 mg kg-1, i.p.) was attenuated by previous treatment with L-arginine (300 mg kg-1, i.p.). Sub-chronic treatment with L-NOARG (40 mg kg-1, i.p., twice a day for 4 days) was also able to attenuate the cataleptic effect of acute drug administration (40 mg kg-1, i.p.). These results show that acute systemic injections of L-NOARG induce significant motor effects.
Marras
R A
RA
Department of Pharmacology, FMRP, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Martins
A P
AP
Del Bel
E A
EA
Guimarães
F S
FS
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D002375:Catalepsy / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D019335:Nitroarginine
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019335:Nitroarginine; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase