Nitric oxide synthase inhibition blocks phencyclidine-induced behavioural effects on prepulse inhibition and locomotor activity in the rat.
The ability of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), to block the behavioural effects of the potent psychotomimetic, phencyclidine, was tested in rats using two different behavioural models. L-NAME was found to block both phencyclidine-induced disruption of prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle and phencyclidine-induced stimulation of locomotor activity. A selective action of L-NAME on the effects of phencyclidine was indicated, since L-NAME did not alter the effects of amphetamine, another potent psychotomimetic, in these behavioural models. These observations suggest that a nitric oxide-dependent mechanism may be involved in the effects of phencyclidine in the central nervous system.
Johansson
C
C
Department of Behavioural and Biochemical Pharmacology, CNS Preclinical Research and Development, Astra Arcus AB, Södertälje, Sweden.
Jackson
D M
DM
Svensson
L
L
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000187:drug effects; D010622:Phencyclidine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects*
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D010622:Phencyclidine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester