Nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactive nerve fibers in the nasal mucosa of the rat.
An immunohistochemical study was performed to detect the localization of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the rat nasal mucosa by light and electron microscopy. NOS-immunoreactive nerve fibers were observed around blood vessels and seromucous glands. They were found in the subepithelial layer and even within the epithelium. But no NOS-immunoreactivity was found in the olfactory neuroepithelium. Electron microscopy showed that NOS-immunoreactive nerve profiles were in close contact with the cytolemma of respiratory epithelial cells and acinar cells of seromucous glands. NOS-immunoreactive axon varicosities were located at a considerable distance from the smooth muscle of arterioles and small veins as well as the endothelial cells of venules and capillaries. We confirmed that NOS-containing nerves innervated the epithelium, blood vessels and seromucous glands of the nasal mucosa. These findings, collectively, suggested the possibility that nitric oxide participated in the sensory function of the epithelium, the secretory activities of the nasal gland, and the regulation of vascular tone and vascular permeability in the nasal mucosa.
Hanazawa
T
T
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Chiba University School of Medicine, 1-8, Japan.
Konno
A
A
Kaneko
T
T
Tanaka
K
K
Ohshima
H
H
Esumi
H
H
Chiba
T
T
D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000294:innervation*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases