title: Effects of nitric oxide on passive avoidance learning in rats.
abstract: To investigate the effects of nitric oxide (NO) on passive avoidance learning, L-NAME, D-NAME, and L-arginine were administered i.p. 30 min prior to learning trial; the effects of these substances were tested 24 h later using a passive avoidance apparatus in rats. To reveal the effect of NO on consolidation of acquired memory, L-NAME, D-NAME, and L-arginine were administered i.p. immediately after learning trials and animals were tested 24 h later. Effect of NO on retention was also investigated by injecting L-NAME, D-NAME, and L-arginine (same dosages) 30 min prior to 24 h testing (retrieval). L-NAME administered 30 min before and 24 h after learning trial significantly decreased the avoidance latency but there was no significant effect on consolidation. L-Arginine appeared to enhance the retention of acquired memory significantly, whereas D-NAME had no effect on any testing regime. The results suggest that NO may be involved in learning and retention of passive avoidance.
authors.affiliation: Ondokuz Mayis University, Medical School, Department of Physiology, Samsun, Turkey. mehmetyd@omu.edu.tr
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: Cafer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Marangoz
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001362:Avoidance Learning / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000187:drug effects; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester