Abstract
The role of brain l-arginine/nitric oxide biochemical pathway in the regulation of drinking behaviour was investigated. Drinking was induced by water deprivation or by intracerebroventricularly (i.c.v.) injected angiotensin II. l-Arginine, the amino-acid precursor of nitric oxide, i.c.v. injected, caused a dose-dependent reduction of the intake of water induced both by water deprivation and i.c.v. angiotensin II ( P < 0.001). l-NAME, inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, reverted l-arginine antidipsogenic effect. l-Arginine, given into the preoptic area (POA) caused a potent antidipsogenic effect ( P < 0.001). Either methylene blue (inhibitor of guanylate cyclase activation) or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), injected into the POA, antagonized the antidipsogenic effect of i.c.v. injected l-arginine. The results indicate that nitric oxide acts as an inhibitory mechanism into the POA and that its antidipsogenic effect requires prostaglandin synthesis.
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