NITRIC-OXIDE PROLONGS PARTURITION AND INHIBITS MATERNAL-BEHAVIOR IN RATS

Citation
Co. Okere et al., NITRIC-OXIDE PROLONGS PARTURITION AND INHIBITS MATERNAL-BEHAVIOR IN RATS, NeuroReport, 7(10), 1996, pp. 1695-1699
Citations number
21
Categorie Soggetti
Neurosciences
Journal title
ISSN journal
09594965
Volume
7
Issue
10
Year of publication
1996
Pages
1695 - 1699
Database
ISI
SICI code
0959-4965(1996)7:10<1695:NPPAIM>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
WE examined the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the process of parturit ion in rats. Subcutaneous injection of the NO donor sodium nitroprussi de (SNP) in late pregnancy prolonged the total parturition time. The e ffect of N omega-nitro-L-arginine was not significantly different from that of saline. Intracerebroventricular injection of SNP in parturien t rats delayed the progress of parturition. Both modes of SNP treatmen t also inhibited expression of maternal behaviour. Central injection o f oxytocin (OXT) with SNP failed to reduce parturition time significan tly, but intrapartum, not postpartum, maternal behaviour was restored. These observations suggest that NO interferes with the release of OXT within the brain, hence affecting the initiation of maternal behaviou r, and may also impair oxytocin secretion from the neurohypophysis.