The involvement of nitric oxide in the analgesic effects of ketamine

Bulutcu F., Dogrul A., Guc M.

LIFE SCIENCES, vol.71, no.7, pp.841-853, 2002 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 71 Issue: 7
  • Publication Date: 2002
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/s0024-3205(02)01765-4
  • Journal Name: LIFE SCIENCES
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.841-853
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: No

Abstract

We investigated the contribution of NO-cyclic GMP (cGMP) pathway to the antinociceptive effects of ketamine in mice by using the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, nitro(g)-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Intraperitoneal (i.p.) (1, 5 or 10 mg/kg) or intrathecal (i.th.) (10, 30 or 60 mug/mouse) administration of ketamine produced dose-dependent antinociceptive effects in the acetic acid-induced writhing and formalin tests but not in the tail-flick nor in hot-plate tests. pretreatment of mice with L-NAME (10 mg/kg, i.p.) which produced no antinociception on its own, significantly inhibited the antinociceptive effect of ketamine (1, 5 or 10 mg/kg, i.p.). However, L-NAME (30 mug/mouse) was given intrathecally, it neither modified the antinociceptive effect of i.th. ketamine (10, 3 0 or 60 mug/mouse) nor did it produce an antinociceptive effect alone. These data suggest that the activation of the NO-cGMP pathway probably at the supraspinal level, but not spinal level, contributes to the antinociceptive effects of ketamine. (C) 2002 Published by Elsevier Science Inc.