| SHORT COMMUNICATION |
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| Year : 2000 | Volume
: 32
| Issue : 2 | Page : 126-128 |
Involvement of NMDA-nitric oxide pathway in the facilitatory effect of morphine in hypoxia-induced lethality in mice
I Dokmeci, A Ulugol, A Tuncer, T Dost, D Dokmeci, H Karadag
Correspondence Address:
I Dokmeci
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
Objective: The contribution of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and nitric oxide (NO) to the effect of morphine on hypoxia-induced lethality was investigated in the present experiments.
Methods: Mice were subjected to hypoxia by putting them in a tightly closed glass container. The latencies for death were recorded.
Results: MK-801 (0.25 mg/kg, i.p.) and N(-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester (L-NAME, 10 mg/kg, i.p.), at doses which themselves produced no effect on hypoxia-induced lethality, attenuated the hypoxic effect of morphine (10 mg/kg, i.p.) significantly, but not completely. Concomitant administrations of NMDA (10 mg/ kg) or L-arginine (500 mg/kg, i.p.), completely reversed the protective effects of MK-801 and L-NAME, indicating the possible involvement of NO-linked NMDA receptors in the hypoxic effect of morphine.
Conclusion: Hypoxia induced lethality may be, at least partly, mediated through the NMDA-NO pathway.
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