Localisation of nitric oxide synthase within non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic nerves in the mouse anococcygeus.
Immunocytochemical staining of whole mount preparations of the mouse anococcygeus muscle, using antibodies to rat brain nitric oxide synthase (NOS), revealed a dense network of NOS-immunoreactive nerve fibres running through the tissue. These fibres were resistant to the sympathetic neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine and are therefore likely to be the non-adrenergic nerves which mediate relaxation of this smooth muscle. Further, NOS-immunoreactive fibres were absent following denervation by cold-storage (4 degrees C; 72 h), which has been shown to abolish non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic (NANC) relaxations. The results provide strong support for the hypothesis that the L-arginine:NO pathway is responsible for the generation of the NANC transmitter in the anococcygeus.
Brave
S R
SR
Biomedical Sciences Division, Kings College London, UK.
Tucker
J F
JF
Gibson
A
A
Bishop
A E
AE
Riveros-Moreno
V
V
Moncada
S
S
Polak
J M
JM
D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D003080:Cold Temperature; D006892:Hydroxydopamines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000294:innervation*; D009420:Nervous System / Q000201:enzymology*; D009424:Nervous System Physiological Phenomena; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000294:innervation
D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases