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Nitric oxide synthase inhibition blocks phencyclidine-induced behavioural effects on prepulse inhibition and
C Johansson1, D M Jackson, L Svensson
1Department of Behavioural and Biochemical Pharmacology, CNS Preclinical Research and Development, Astra Arcus AB, Södertälje, Sweden.
Abstract:
The ability of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), to block the behavioural effects of the potent psychotomimetic, phencyclidine, was tested in rats using two different behavioural models. L-NAME was found to block both phencyclidine-induced disruption of prepulse inhibition of acoustic startle and phencyclidine-induced stimulation of locomotor activity. A selective action of L-NAME on the effects of phencyclidine was indicated, since L-NAME did not alter the effects of amphetamine, another potent psychotomimetic, in these behavioural models. These observations suggest that a nitric oxide-dependent mechanism may be involved in the effects of phencyclidine in the central nervous system.