title: Molsidomine antagonizes L-NAME-induced acquisition deficits in a recognition memory task in the rat.
abstract: The present study was designed to investigate the role of nitric oxide (NO) on the acquisition of a recognition memory task in the rat. For this purpose, the effects on memory exerted by pre-training administration of the NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME (N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) and the NO donor molsidomine (N-[ethoxycarbonyl]-3-[4-morpholinosydnomine]) were assessed by using the object recognition task, a working memory paradigm based on the differential exploration of a new and familiar object. In a first dose-response study, it was found that L-NAME (10, 30, and 60 mg kg(-1), i.p.) at 30 but not at 10 mg kg(-1) disrupted animals performance, whereas the dose of 60 mg kg(-1) induced side effects. Molsidomine (2 and 4 mg kg(-1), i.p.) at 4 but not at 2 mg kg(-1), antagonized the L-NAME-induced performance deficits. These results indicate that NO is involved in the acquisition of a recognition memory task.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Pharmacology, Medical School, University of Milan, via Vanvitelli 32, 20129 Milan, Italy. nikpit@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pitsikas
authors.forename: Antonello E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Rigamonti
authors.forename: Sara M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Bonomo
authors.forename: Silvano G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Cella
authors.forename: Eugenio E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Muller
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008981:Molsidomine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000187:drug effects*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D008981:Molsidomine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester