title: Widespread tissue distribution, species distribution and changes in activity of Ca(2+)-dependent and Ca(2+)-independent nitric oxide synthases.
abstract: The distribution of Ca(2+)-dependent and Ca(2+)-independent nitric oxide synthase (NOS) was studied in rabbits and in control and endotoxin-treated rats and guinea-pigs. There was a widespread localization of NOS which differed for the two forms of the enzyme and which showed marked differences between species. Endotoxin induced the activity of the Ca(2+)-independent NOS in many tissues and also increased the activity of Ca(2+)-dependent NOS in the rat ileum and caecum. These results demonstrate the differential distribution of NOSs in control and endotoxin-treated animals and emphasize the widespread biological role of nitric oxide (NO).
authors.affiliation: Wellcome Research Laboratories, Beckenham, Kent, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salter
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Knowles
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moncada
mesh_terms: D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D015735:Mifepristone / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D009928:Organ Specificity; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D004731:Endotoxins; D015735:Mifepristone; D003907:Dexamethasone; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D002118:Calcium