title: Memory-related changes of nitric oxide synthase activity and nitrite level in rat brain.
abstract: The changes of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity and nitrite level in rat brain regions after spatial learning were investigated. NOS activity was assayed by conversion of [3H]L-arginine to [3H]L-citrulline, and a sensitive fluorometric assay for quantification of nitrite was used. Compared with sham-trained rats, NOS activity and nitrite level in hippocampus and cortex, and also the nitrite level in cerebellum, was elevated significantly one day after rats had learnt a water-rewarded spatial alteration task. These results suggest a spatial memory-related changes of endogenous NO in rat brain, and support the idea that NO participates in learning and memory processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zuo
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009573:Nitrites / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D009573:Nitrites; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase