The neuronal selective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, Nomega-propyl-L-arginine, blocks the effects of phencyclidine on prepulse inhibition and locomotor activity in mice.
Phencyclidine has frequently been used to model schizophrenia in animals. In the present study, the ability of the neuronal selective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, Nomega-propyl-L-arginine, to block the behavioural effects of phencyclidine in mice was investigated. N(omega)-propyl-L-arginine (20 mg/kg) was found to block both phencyclidine (4 mg/kg)-induced disruption of prepulse inhibition and phencyclidine-induced stimulation of locomotor activity in the mice tested. It is concluded that the NOS-sensitive behavioural effects of phencyclidine in rodents is dependent on neuronal NOS and that NO may play a role in the psychotomimetic effects of phencyclidine.
Klamer
Daniel
D
Department of Pharmacology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at Göteborg University, POB 431, SE 405 30 Göteborg, Sweden.
Engel
Jörgen A
JA
Svensson
Lennart
L
D000161:Acoustic Stimulation; D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D010622:Phencyclidine / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000187:drug effects*
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D018691:Excitatory Amino Acid Antagonists; D006213:Hallucinogens; C109116:N(omega)-propargylarginine; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496321:Nos1 protein, mouse; D010622:Phencyclidine