Nitric oxide synthase and GABA colocalize in lamina II of rat spinal cord.
A dense plexus of fibers in the substantia gelatinosa contains nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Using electron microscopic double-labeling immunocytochemistry for NOS combined with GABA or glutamate, we find that all NOS-positive terminals in this region also contain GABA but are not enriched in glutamate. In an attempt to verify that NOS-positive terminals do not originate from primary afferents, we combined NOS immunocytochemistry with anterograde tracing from the sciatic nerve. An intrinsic spinal origin for the NOS-positive plexus is suggested. The results are discussed in the light of the possible involvement of nitric oxide in hyperalgesia.
Valtschanoff
J G
JG
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599.
Weinberg
R J
RJ
Rustioni
A
A
Schmidt
H H
HH
D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D001370:Axonal Transport; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D016253:Microscopy, Immunoelectron; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D018998:Wheat Germ Agglutinin-Horseradish Peroxidase Conjugate; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000032:analysis*
D018998:Wheat Germ Agglutinin-Horseradish Peroxidase Conjugate; D014909:Wheat Germ Agglutinins; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D006735:Horseradish Peroxidase; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases