[The regulation of NO on sleep-wakefulness in rats].
OBJECTIVE
The effects of an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase L-NAME and a precursor of NO(L-arginine) on sleep-wakefulness in rats were examined.


RESULTS
1. The time of waking was increased(P < 0.01) and the time of SWS was decreased(P < 0.01) during the first two hours after injection intracerebroventricularly(i.c.v.) of L-NAME 1 mg, this effect was showed across the 4 h recording period(P < 0.05). The i.c.v. injection of L-NAME 0.2 mg had no significant effect. 2. The time of waking was su-ppressed during the third and fourth hours after i.c.v. injection of L-arginine 300 micrograms(P < 0.05). At the same time the increase of SWS was observed (P < 0.01). 3. There was no change on W, SWS, PS when L-NAME 1 mg was given after administration of L-arginine.


CONCLUSIONS
The excitatory effect of L-NAME on wakefulness is mediated by inhibition of NOS. This effect could be antagonized by L-arginine. It suggests that NO is involved in regulation of sleep-wakefulness.
Department of Physiology, Shanghai Second Medical University, Shanghai 200025.
W H
WH
Zhang
B Y
BY
Sun
Y L
YL
Lin
D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008845:Microinjections; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014851:Wakefulness / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester