The role of brain l-arginine/nitric oxide biochemical pathway in the regulation of drinking
behaviour was investigated. Drinking was induced by water deprivation or by
intracerebroventricularly (icv) injected angiotensin II. l-Arginine, the amino-acid precursor of
nitric oxide, icv injected, caused a dose-dependent reduction of the intake of water induced
both by water deprivation and icv angiotensin II (P< 0.001). l-NAME, inhibitor of nitric oxide
synthase, reverted l-arginine antidipsogenic effect. l-Arginine, given into the preoptic area …