Anorectic activity of NG-nitro-L-arginine, an inhibitor of brain nitric oxide synthase, in obese Zucker rats

Eur J Pharmacol. 1993 Jan 5;230(1):125-8. doi: 10.1016/0014-2999(93)90422-e.

Abstract

We investigated the effects of NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NO Arg) administration (12.5, 25 and 50 mg/kg i.p.) on food consumption and body weight of male obese Zucker rats (fa/fa) and in their lean age-matched controls (FA/?; FA/FA), both groups aged 14 weeks. Acute or repeated administration of L-NO Arg reduced food intake and body weight in both obese and lean rats. However the lean rats showed tolerance to the L-NO Arg effects after 5 days of treatment. L-NO Arg anorexia was suppressed by pretreatment with metergoline. These results suggest that L-NO Arg may represent a new anorectic drug.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Animals
  • Appetite Depressants / pharmacology*
  • Arginine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Arginine / pharmacology
  • Body Weight / drug effects
  • Brain / drug effects
  • Brain / enzymology*
  • Eating / drug effects
  • Male
  • Metergoline / pharmacology
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Nitroarginine
  • Obesity / enzymology*
  • Rats
  • Rats, Zucker
  • Ritanserin / pharmacology
  • Serotonin Antagonists

Substances

  • Appetite Depressants
  • Serotonin Antagonists
  • Ritanserin
  • Metergoline
  • Nitroarginine
  • Arginine
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase
  • Amino Acid Oxidoreductases