We hypothesized that anesthetic dose of riluzole, an inhibitor of glutamate neurotransmission, may affect the activity and/or expression of neuronal NOS (nNOS). Riluzole, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME) and 7-nitro indazole (7-NI) produced a concentration-related inhibition of nNOS activity in vitro. Riluzole competed with 7-NI for inhibition of nNOS activity, but had no effect on n...

The present study evaluated the possible changes in the autonomic control of heart rate in the hypertensive model induced by the inhibition of nitric oxide synthase. Rats were treated with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME group) in the drinking water during 7 days, whereas control groups were treated with tap water (control group) or with the N(G)-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester (D-NAME...

The effects of nitric oxide (NO) and its synthase (NOS) inhibitor on the generation of spontaneous spreading depression (SD) waves in the frog retina were studied by recording spreading depression potentials (SDPs) as an index. NO-releasing reagents such as sodium nitroprusside and hydroxylamine as well as the substrate of NOS, L-arginine, increased the frequency of the occurrence of spontaneou...

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate reduced-diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemistry was investigated in the axolotl (Ambystoma tigrinum) lateral line. Hair cells of neuromast organs of the head skin and neurons of the postotic ganglia showed a significant NADPH-d reaction. Multiunit recording of neuromast afferent activity was also performed. Nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-...

It has been shown that nitric oxide (NO) increases aggression in male mice, whereas it decreases aggression in lactating female mice and prairie voles. It is also known that aggression can be exhibited at different levels in rodent species, strain or subtypes. The aims of this study were to investigate the proportion of aggressiveness in Wistar rats, the effect of intraperitoneally administered...

1. The ability of analogues of L-arginine (N-iminoethyl-L-ornithine (L-NIO), NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA)) to protect against inflammatory injury induced by activated neutrophils was investigated in rats following intradermal or intrapulmonary deposition of immune complexes. 2. The descending order of potency for pr...

BACKGROUND Elevated plasma homocysteine concentrations in renal patients are associated with accelerated cardiovascular disease. The mechanism(s) by which homocysteine acts remains unclear however, evidence implicates a role involving endothelial dysfunction. METHODS Rat femoral arteries after acute or 4-h pre-incubation with racemic D,L-homocysteine (100 microM) were mounted on a myograph, p...

Analogues of L-arginine with modifications at the terminal guanidino nitrogen and/or the carboxyl terminus of the molecule have been widely used for their ability to inhibit the production of nitric oxide and are thought to be competitive antagonists of nitric oxide synthase. The present studies were designed to test the possibility that these agents are also muscarinic receptor antagonists. Ac...

In the present study, we examined the roles of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and nitric oxide (NO) in the activation of satellite cells in passively stretched rat skeletal muscle. A hindlimb suspension model was developed in which the vastus, adductor, and gracilis muscles were subjected to stretch for 1 h. Satellite cells were activated by stretch determined on the basis of 5-bromo-2'-deoxyur...