Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis impairs two different forms of learning

P.F. Chapman, C.M. Atkins, M.T. Allen, J.E. Haley, J.E. Steinmetz

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO), an intercellular messenger in the central nervous system of vertebrates, plays an important role in the establishment of synaptic plasticity. In order to investigate the role of NO and synaptic plasticity in learning, we injected rats and rabbits with the NO synthase inhibitor nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) prior to training on two tests of learning. Rats treated with L-NAME were impaired in learning a spatial learning task, while rabbits given the NO synthase inhibitor demonstrated learning deficits in the conditioned eyeblink response. The results support the hypothesis that NO plays a critical role in acquisition of two different forms of learning.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)567-570
Number of pages4
JournalNeuroreport
Volume3
Issue number7
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1992

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