Nitric oxide agents and apomorphine-induced rat behaviors.
BACKGROUND
Nitric oxide (NO) may alter dopamine release in the brain. Activation of D2-dopamine receptors may suppress NO synthase, and inhibition of NO synthase prevents behaviors induced by psychostimulants. We have investigated the modulatory actions of the precursor of NO synthesis (L-arginine) and the broad-spectrum NO synthesis inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on apomorphine-induced behaviors in the rat.


METHODS
Apomorphine was injected subcutaneously, and behaviors induced by the drug were examined in the presence or absence of intracerebroventricular administration of L-arginine and L-NAME.


RESULTS
Our data indicate that L-arginine or L-NAME treatment decreased licking and yawning, but not penile erection induced by apomorphine.


CONCLUSIONS
Apomorphine-induced behaviors may be modulated by NO levels.
Zarrindast
Mohammad-Reza
MR
Department of Pharmacology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Institute of Studies of Mathematics and Physics, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran. zarinmr@ams.ac.ir
Nojoomi
Katayoon
K
Sharifzadeh
Mohammad
M
Mokri
Azarakhsh
A
D000818:Animals; D001058:Apomorphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D018491:Dopamine Agonists; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D001058:Apomorphine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester