TY - JOUR
T1 - Intracerebroventricular injection of L-arginine induces sedative and hypnotic effects under an acute stress in neonatal chicks
AU - Suenaga, R.
AU - Tomonaga, S.
AU - Yamane, H.
AU - Kurauchi, I.
AU - Tsuneyoshi, Y.
AU - Sato, H.
AU - Denbow, D. M.
AU - Furuse, M.
PY - 2008/6/1
Y1 - 2008/6/1
N2 - L-Arginine participates in many important and diverse biochemical reactions associated with the normal physiology of the organism. In the present study, we investigated the effect of central administration of L-arginine on the stress response and its mechanism in neonatal chicks. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of L-arginine clearly attenuated the stress response in a dose-dependent manner, and induced sleep-like behavior during 10 min. To clarify the mechanism by which L-arginine induces sedative and hypnotic effects in chicks, we investigated the effects of nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) inhibitors on L-arginine-induced sedative and hypnotic effects, and as well as the effects of a NO donor. L-Arginine-induced (1.9 μmol) sedative and hypnotic effects were attenuated by i.c.v. co-injection with a non-selective NOS inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester HCl (400 nmol). In addition, the effects of L-arginine were slightly attenuated by the inactive isomer of the NOS inhibitor NG-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester HCl (400 nmol). The i.c.v. injection of 3-morpholinosylnomine hydrochloride, a spontaneous NO donor, had little effect on postures. The i.c.v. injection of L-arginine had no effect on NOx concentration at various brain sites. These results suggested that the contribution of NO generation via NOS may be low in the sedative and hypnotic actions of L-arginine. Therefore, L-arginine and/or its metabolites, excluding NO, may be necessary for these actions.
AB - L-Arginine participates in many important and diverse biochemical reactions associated with the normal physiology of the organism. In the present study, we investigated the effect of central administration of L-arginine on the stress response and its mechanism in neonatal chicks. Intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection of L-arginine clearly attenuated the stress response in a dose-dependent manner, and induced sleep-like behavior during 10 min. To clarify the mechanism by which L-arginine induces sedative and hypnotic effects in chicks, we investigated the effects of nitric oxide (NO) synthase (NOS) inhibitors on L-arginine-induced sedative and hypnotic effects, and as well as the effects of a NO donor. L-Arginine-induced (1.9 μmol) sedative and hypnotic effects were attenuated by i.c.v. co-injection with a non-selective NOS inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester HCl (400 nmol). In addition, the effects of L-arginine were slightly attenuated by the inactive isomer of the NOS inhibitor NG-nitro-D-arginine methyl ester HCl (400 nmol). The i.c.v. injection of 3-morpholinosylnomine hydrochloride, a spontaneous NO donor, had little effect on postures. The i.c.v. injection of L-arginine had no effect on NOx concentration at various brain sites. These results suggested that the contribution of NO generation via NOS may be low in the sedative and hypnotic actions of L-arginine. Therefore, L-arginine and/or its metabolites, excluding NO, may be necessary for these actions.
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U2 - 10.1007/s00726-007-0610-4
DO - 10.1007/s00726-007-0610-4
M3 - Article
C2 - 18163184
AN - SCOPUS:44949174208
VL - 35
SP - 139
EP - 146
JO - Amino Acids
JF - Amino Acids
SN - 0939-4451
IS - 1
ER -