title: Effects of a nitric oxide donor on behavior and interaction with nitrous oxide in the mouse light/dark exploration test.
abstract: There is controversy whether endogenous nitric oxide (NO) is involved in anxiogenesis or anxiolysis. This study was conducted to determine the influence of the NO donor, 3-morpholinosyndnonimine (SIN-1), on resting and nitrous oxide (N(2)O)-induced behaviors in the mouse light/dark exploration test. I.c.v. doses of 0.3 and 1.0 microg SIN-1 both increased the time spent in the light compartment. When pretreated with 0.1 microg SIN-1, mice responded to N(2)O with an apparent additive increase in the time spent in the light compartment. These findings further support a functional role of NO in regulation of anxiety and mediation of N(2)O-induced behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Graduate Program in Pharmacology and Toxicology, Washington State University, P.O. Box 646534, 99164-6534, Pullman, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Raymond M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Quock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003624:Darkness; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D007276:Injections, Intraventricular; D008027:Light; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008981:Molsidomine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C002385:linsidomine; D008981:Molsidomine; D009609:Nitrous Oxide