Journal List > Yonsei Med J > v.44(5) > 1029593

Jahng, Choi, Kim, and Houpt: Central Nω-nitro-L-arginine Methyl Ester Does not Influence Lithium-induced c-Fos and Conditioned Taste Aversion

Abstract

LiCl at doses sufficient to induce conditioned taste aversion (CTA) causes c-Fos expression in the brain regions implicated in CTA formation. It has been reported that nitric oxide (NO) may play a role in CTA learning and LiCl increases both the synthesis and activity of NO synthase (NOS) in the brain. In this study, we examined the effect of central Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on the brain c-Fos expression and CTA learning induced by lithium in rats. In the results, intracerebroventricular L-NAME given prior to lithium did not change either the lithium-induced CTA or c-Fos in the relevant brain regions. This suggests that the brain NO system may not be involved in the neuronal activation during lithium-induced CTA formation.

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