Molsidomine attenuates N(omega)-nitro-L-argininemethylester-induced deficits in a memory task in the rat.
The present study was designed to investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) on recognition memory in the rat. For this purpose, the effects on memory exerted by post-training administration of the NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor N(omega)-nitro-L-argininemethylester (L-NAME) and the NO donor molsidomine were assessed by using the object recognition task. In a first dose-response study, L-NAME, at 30 but not at 10 mg/kg impaired the animals' performance, whereas at 60 mg/kg, it induced side-effects. Molsidomine, 4 mg/kg, antagonized the L-NAME-induced performance deficits. These results indicate that NO is involved in post-training memory processes.
D000647:Amnesia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D004192:Discrimination, Psychological / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008981:Molsidomine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D051381:Rats; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D008981:Molsidomine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester