Influence of NO downregulation on oscillatory evoked responses in developing rat superior colliculus.

Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in neuronal transmission by modulating neurotransmitter release in adults and in stabilizing synaptic connections in developing brains. We investigated the influence of downregulation of NO synthesis on oscillatory components of ON and OFF evoked field potentials in the rat superior colliculus. NO synthesis was decreased by inhibiting nitric oxide synthase (NOS) with an acute microinjection of N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME).