title: Inhibition of nitric oxide formation reduces voluntary ethanol consumption in the rat.
abstract: Brain nitric oxide is involved in the mechanisms that regulate ingestive behavior. To test whether this compound plays a role in alcohol preference, we studied the effects of different doses of NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NO arg), an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), on voluntary consumption of ethanol and on blood alcohol levels produced by a single intraperitoneal dose of alcohol in the rat. L-NO arg produced a significant and dose-dependent reduction of ethanol intake (P < 0.001) without influencing total fluid consumption or feeding behavior. L-NO arg did not influence the kinetics of alcohol. Our data show that inhibition of nitric oxide formation accompanies reduction of ethanol intake and suggest a possible role for nitric oxide in ethanol self-administration.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calapai
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mazzaglia
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sautebin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Costantino
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Marciano
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cuzzocrea
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Rosa
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Caputi
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D019335:Nitroarginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012646:Self Administration
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019335:Nitroarginine; D000431:Ethanol; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase