title: Role of cyclic GMP in nitrous-oxide-induced anxiolytic-like behavior in the mouse light-dark exploration test.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in the anxiolytic-like behavioral effects of nitrous oxide (N2O). This study was conducted to determine whether NO activates a soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC)-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) pathway in the behavioral response to N2O in the light-dark exploration test. In mice pretreated with an sGC inhibitor, the increased light-compartment activity normally induced by N2O was significantly attenuated. Pretreatment with a cGMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor antagonized the anxiogenic effect of 15% N2O and enhanced the anxiolytic effect of 25% N2O, implying that cGMP reduces anxiety. These preliminary findings suggest that a signaling pathway involving NO and cGMP may mediate the behavioral effects of N2O.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6534, USA.
authors.forename: Shuang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Eunhee
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Raymond M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Quock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005106:Exploratory Behavior / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010069:Oxadiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D010507:Periodicity; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011688:Purinones / Q000494:pharmacology; D011810:Quinoxalines / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: C095284:1H-(1,2,4)oxadiazolo(4,3-a)quinoxalin-1-one; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010069:Oxadiazoles; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D011688:Purinones; D011810:Quinoxalines; C011145:zaprinast; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D009609:Nitrous Oxide