title: Nitric oxide synthase in the rat carotid body and carotid sinus.
abstract: The participation of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the innervation of the rat carotid body and carotid sinus was investigated by means of NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry and NOS immunohistochemistry using antisera raised against purified neuronal NOS and a synthetic tridecapeptide. NOS was detected in 23% of neurons at the periphery of the carotid bodies. Some negative neurons were surrounded by NOS-positive terminals. NOS-containing varicose nerve fibres innervated the arterial vascular bed and, to a lesser extent, the islands of glomus cells. These fibres persisted after transection of the carotid sinus nerve and are probably derived from intrinsic neurons. Large NOS-positive axonal swellings in the wall of the carotid sinus were absent after transection of the sinus nerve, indicating their sensory origin. The results suggest a neuronal nitrergic control of blood flow, neuronal activity and chemoreception in the carotid body, and an intrinsic role of NO in the process of arterial baroreception.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Philipps University Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Höhler
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kummer
mesh_terms: D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002344:Carotid Body / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000502:physiology; D002346:Carotid Sinus / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000201:enzymology; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D010455:Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011311:Pressoreceptors / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D010455:Peptides; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase