title: Evidence for a role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors in L-arginine-induced attenuation of morphine antinociception.
abstract: Twice daily injections of L-arginine (50, 100 or 200 mg/kg, i.p.) for 4 days dose-dependently, decreased morphine antinociception in male Swiss-Webster mice as measured by the tail-flick test. To determine the possible role of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor in the action of L-arginine, the effects of MK-801, a noncompetitive antagonist of the NMDA receptor and of LY 235959, a competitive antagonist of the NMDA receptor on L-arginine-induced attenuation of morphine antinociception were determined. MK-801 (0.01-0.10 mg/kg, i.p.) or LY 235959 (1.0-4.0 mg/kg, i.p.) given 10 min before each injection of L-arginine (200 mg/kg, i.p.) reversed the action of the letter in a dose-dependent manner on morphine antinociception. It is concluded that NMDA receptors are involved in the action of L-arginine in attenuating morphine antinociception.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacodynamics (M/C 865), University of Illinois, Chicago Health Sciences Center 60612, USA. drhnb@uic.edu
authors.forename: H N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Bhargava
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Bian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009020:Morphine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009294:Narcotics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D009619:Nociceptors / Q000187:drug effects*; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D007546:Isoquinolines; D009294:Narcotics; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D016291:Dizocilpine Maleate; D009020:Morphine; D001120:Arginine; C088643:LY 235959