Nitric oxide (NO) is a neurotransmitter which is synthesized on demand from L-arginine by the enzyme nitric-oxide-oxidase, and is implicated in a variety of physiological functions, including release and uptake of dopamine. Amphetamine induces stereotyped behavior via release of dopamine from dopaminergic neurons in the striatum and related structures, while apomorphine induces such behavior via activation of central dopaminergic receptors. Recently we have demonstrated that a NO donors and a NO-synthase inhibitor modify the response of some central dopaminergic receptors to their agonists and antagonists. In the present study we examined the effect of two NO donors and one NO-synthase inhibitor on stereotyped behavior induced in rats by amphetamine and apomorphine, and the sex-selectivity of this effect. A highly significant dose-dependent sexual differentiation was recorded in the stereotyped behavior of amphetamine, as the duration and intensity of this effect was shortened by L-NAME but not by L-arginine and Molsidomine. Differences in the stereotyped behavior between female and male rats administered apomorphine were dose-dependent, but were not affected by any of the three drugs tested. It is concluded that while nitric oxide is involved in the reactivity of central dopamine receptors, the intensity and duration of this effect is drug- and sex-dependent.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:ETSU/oai:dc.etsu.edu:etsu-works-14865 |
| Date | 01 December 1999 |
| Creators | Kasperska, Alicja, Brus, Ryszard, Sokola, Andrzej, Kostrzewa, Richard M., Shani, Jashovam |
| Publisher | Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University |
| Source Sets | East Tennessee State University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text |
| Source | ETSU Faculty Works |
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