title: The effect of nitric oxide synthesis inhibition on intravenous cocaine self-administration.
abstract: Adult male rats were implanted with intravenous catheters. After a minimum of 10 days recovery from surgery, rats were trained to intravenously self-administer cocaine (1 mg/kg/infusion) during 3-h test sessions. The nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME) was used to determine the effect of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis inhibition on cocaine self-administration. A 5-day protocol was used and on Days 2 and 5, an intraperitoneal injection of L-NAME (0, 3, 30, 300 mg/kg) was administered 45 to 60 min into a 3-h test session. One to two hours following L-NAME administration, there was a dose-dependent decrease in the amount of self-administered cocaine and an increase in the interresponse time (IRT) between successive cocaine injections. L-NAME appeared to prolong the rewarding effect of cocaine possibly through a pharmacokinetic action.
authors.affiliation: Addiction Research Unit, Department of Psychology, State University of New York at Buffalo, USA.
authors.forename: Cindy M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pudiak
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bozarth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D051381:Rats; D020318:Rats, Long-Evans; D012201:Reward; D012646:Self Administration
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D003042:Cocaine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester