Catalepsy induced by nitric oxide synthase inhibitors.

1. Previous study showed that N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG), an inhibitor of nitric bxide synthase, induces catalepsy in a dose-dependent manner in male albino-Swiss mice. 2. The objective of the present work was to further investigate this effect, extending it to other NOS inhibitors. 3. Results showed that L-NOARG (40-80 mg/kg i.p.), N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME, 40-160 mg/kg i.p.) or N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 80 mg/kg i.p.) were able to induce catalepsy in mice. The effect of L-NOARG (40 mg/kg) was antagonized by pretreatment with L-arginine (300 mg/kg), but not by D-arginine (300 mg/kg). The catalepsy-inducing effect of L-NOARG suffered rapid tolerance, showing a significant decrease after two days of chronic treatment (40 mg/kg i.p., twice a day). 4. The results suggest that interference with the formation of nitric oxide induces significant motor effects in mice.