title: Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis reduces intravenous cocaine self-administration in the rat.
abstract: The effects of a blockade of nitric oxide synthesis were studied in rats trained to self-administer cocaine intravenously. Pretreatment with Ng-nitro-1-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME; 10-50 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, twice daily for 4 days), significantly and dose-dependently suppressed the maintenance of intravenous cocaine self-administration and the absolute reward magnitude of cocaine. These results suggest that nitric oxide may play a role in cocaine abuse and dependence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropharmacology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pulvirenti
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balducci
authors.forename: G F
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Koob
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012201:Reward; D012646:Self Administration
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D003042:Cocaine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester