Je. Morley et al., NITRIC-OXIDE SYNTHASE INHIBITION AND FOOD-INTAKE - EFFECTS ON MOTIVATION TO EAT AND IN FEMALE MICE, Pharmacology, biochemistry and behavior, 50(3), 1995, pp. 369-373
Recent studies have demonstrated that nitric oxide may play an importa
nt role in the regulation of food intake. The studies reported here ex
tend these findings by demonstrating that N-G-nitro-arginine-methylest
er, N-Arg(ME), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, decreased intake of
a highly palatable substance (i.e., milk), though at a higher dose tha
n necessary for decreasing consumption of food pellets. N-Arg(ME) fail
ed to inhibit lever press for milk reward in nonprefed mice, but decre
ased lever pressing in prefed mice. N-Arg(ME) decreased food intake in
female mice, being most potent in proestrus. These studies suggest th
at nitric oxide synthase inhibition decreases food intake without indu
cing aversion or illness.