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Ionotropic glutamate-receptor antagonists inhibit the aversive effects of nitric oxide donor injected into the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray of rats

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Abstract

Rationale

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gas neurotransmitter that may facilitate glutamate release in the central nervous system. NO donors or glutamate agonists injected into the dorsolateral periaqueductal grey (dlPAG) induce flight behaviour.

Objectives

To test the hypothesis that the defensive reactions induced by an NO donor in the dlPAG would be attenuated by pretreatment with AMPA/kainate or NMDA glutamate receptor antagonists.

Methods

Male Wistar rats with cannulae aimed at the dlPAG received vehicle, AP7 (a NMDA receptor antagonist, 2 nmol) or NBQX (an AMPA/kainite receptor antagonist, 100 nmol) injection 10 min before the administration of SIN-1 (an NO donor, 300 nmol). Immediately after the last injection, their behavior was observed in an open arena during 10 min.

Results

SIN-1 induced flight reactions characterized by running and jumps. Pretreatment with AP7 or NBQX completely prevented the effects of SIN-1.

Conclusion

The results suggest that the aversive reactions induced by an NO donor in the dlPAG depend on ionotropic glutamate receptor activation.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by grants from CAPES, CNPq and FAPESP (02/13197-2). We thank J.C. de Aguiar and E.T. Gomes for excellent technical support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology, FMRP, Campus USP, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

    Fabrício Araújo Moreira, Moriana Ludmilla Molchanov & Francisco Silveira Guimarães

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  1. Fabrício Araújo Moreira
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  2. Moriana Ludmilla Molchanov
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  3. Francisco Silveira Guimarães
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Correspondence to Francisco Silveira Guimarães.

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Moreira, F.A., Molchanov, M.L. & Guimarães, F.S. Ionotropic glutamate-receptor antagonists inhibit the aversive effects of nitric oxide donor injected into the dorsolateral periaqueductal gray of rats. Psychopharmacology 171, 199–203 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-003-1569-9

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