Effect of nitric oxide modulators on brain and serum acetylcholine esterase activity in Japanese quail

Effect of different nitric oxide (NO) modulators on the acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity in the brain tissue and serum of the Japanese quail was investigated. Adult male Japanese quails (35 weeks of age) were administered with sodium nitropruside (SNP), NO donor and NE Nitro-L- arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), NOS inhibitor through intraperitoneal route for 10 days. The control group received 0.5 ml of normal saline through same route through out the experimental period. At the end of the treatment brain and serum samples were collected from the birds of control and treated groups. AChE activity in the brain membranes, cytosolic fraction and serum was estimated in all the groups. The stable end products of nitric oxide (nitrite and nitrate) were estimated in the brain and serum of birds from all the groups. The membrane bound AChE activity in L-NAME and SNP groups were significantly (P<0.05) lower than the control group. A similar trend was observed in the serum AChE activity. The cytosolic AChE L-NAME group was significantly (P<0.05) higher as compared to other groups.