Effects of Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibitors 7-NI, L-NAME, and L-NOARG in Staircase Test

Background jective of the study was to investigate the effects of the nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors 7-nitroindazole (7-NI), NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NOARG), and NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on the behavior of mice in the staircase test. s hibitors 7-NI (20–120 mg/kg), L-NOARG (20 and 40 mg/kg), and L-NAME (20 and 40 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) 30 min prior to the staircase test. Staircase test consisted of placing a mouse in an enclosed staircase with five steps and recording the number of rearings made and the number of steps climbed during a 3-min period. s nd L-NOARG did not have a significant effect on the behavior of mice in the staircase test. L-NAME caused a decrease in the number of rearings without changes in the number of steps taken. sions hibitor L-NAME but not 7-NI or L-NAME induced an anxiolytic effect in the staircase test.