Orzelska J, Talarek S, Listos J, Fidecka S. Effects of NOS inhibitors on the benzodiazepines-induced memory impairment of mice in the modified elevated plus-maze task.
Behav Brain Res 2013;
244:100-6. [PMID:
23396146 DOI:
10.1016/j.bbr.2013.01.038]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2012] [Revised: 01/23/2013] [Accepted: 01/28/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors on responses, elicited by benzodiazepines (BZs) in a modified elevated plus-maze task in mice. It was shown that acute doses of diazepam (DZ; 1 and 2 mg/kg) and flunitrazepam (FNZ; 0.05, 0.1 and 0.2 mg/kg) significantly increased the time of transfer latency (TL2) in a retention trial, thus confirming memory impairing effects of BZs. l-NAME (N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester; 200 mg/kg), a non-selective inhibitor of NOS, and 7-NI (7-nitroindazole; 40 mg/kg), a selective inhibitor of NOS, further intensified DZ-induced memory impairment. On the other hand, L-NAME (50, 100 and 200 mg/kg) and 7-NI (10, 20 and 40 mg/kg) prevented FNZ-induced memory compromising process. The results of this study indicated that suppressed NO synthesis enhanced DZ-induced but prevented FNZ-induced memory impairment. Taken together, these findings could suggest NO involvement in BZs-induced impairment of memory processes. The precise mechanism of these controversial effects, however, remains elusive.
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