The present study was aimed at elucidating the effect of cyclosporine on phenylephrine-evoked nitric oxide (NO) production in C6 glioma cells using direct electrochemical NO monitoring. Phenylephrine (0.1-10 microM) dose-dependently stimulated NO production (0.8-12.9 microM) and this was blocked by NO synthase inhibitor, prazosin, Ca2+-depletion and Xestospongin C (a blocker of the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) receptor), suggesting that the alpha1-adrenoceptor signaling pathway mediates NO production in C6 cells. Cyclosporine (approximately 10 microM) failed to evoke NO production but increased phenylephrine-evoked NO production by 20-120% of phenylephrine alone in a dose-dependent manner (1-5 microM). Xestospongin C, at a concentration which showed no effect on phenylephrine-induced NO production, significantly inhibited the cyclosporine-enhanced phenylephrine response. This finding suggests that cyclosporine may increase phenylephrine-induced NO production by accelerating IP3 receptor function in the alpha1-adrenoceptor signaling pathway in C6 cells. This enhanced NO production in glial cells may be operative for the occurrence of cyclosporine neurotoxicity including convulsions and encephalopathy.