Correlation of inbred mouse sensitivity to nitrous oxide antinociception with brain nitric oxide synthase activity following exposure to nitrous oxide.
Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) antagonizes nitrous oxide (N2O)-induced antinociception in mice. This study was conducted to compare brain NOS activity in high responding C57BL/6 mice, low responding DBA/2 mice and S5 mice selectively bred for low responsiveness to N2O. Exposure to 70% N2O suppressed acetic acid-induced abdominal constrictions in C57BL/6 mice but not DBA/2 or S5 mice. N2O exposure also elevated NOS activity in brains of C57BL/6 mice but not DBA/2 or S5 mice. The absence of these effects in DBA/2 or S5 mice is further support for the hypothesis that nitric oxide (NO) may play a critical role in N2O-induced antinociception in mice.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Washington State University, P.O. Box 646534, Pullman, WA 99164-6534, USA.
Elisabeth Day
ED
Henry
Yusuke
Y
Ohgami
Shuang
S
Li
Eunhee
E
Chung
Raymond M
RM
Quock
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D005260:Female; D007178:Inbreeding; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009609:Nitrous Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods; D013045:Species Specificity
D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D009609:Nitrous Oxide