L-NAME differential effects on diazepam and flunitrazepam responses of rats in the object recognition test

Background the present study was undertaken to better understand possible interaction(s) between a non-selective nitric oxide inhibitor: ng-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-name) and benzodiazepines (bzs) in recognition memory. methods the study was carried out on adult male albino wistar rats. a novel object recognition (nor) task was used to evaluate memory process. results combined administration of l-name (50 mg/kg,ip) with a threshold dose of dz (0.25 mg/kg) induced amnesic effects in rats,participating in the nor test. on the other hand,following a combined administration of l-name (100 mg/kg,ip) with flunitrazepam (fnz; 0.1 mg/kg),it was found out that l-name inhibited the amnesic effects of fnz on rats in the nor test. conclusions the obtained results suggest that suppressed no synthesis may lead to a facilitation of dz-induced memory impairment but surprisingly may prevent amnesic effect after fnz in rats,submitted to nor task. © 2016 institute of pharmacology,polish academy of sciences. published by elsevier sp. z o.o. all rights reserved.