title: Localisation of nitric oxide synthase within non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic nerves in the mouse anococcygeus.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Biomedical Sciences Division, Kings College London, UK.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Brave
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Tucker
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Bishop
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Riveros-Moreno
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Moncada
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Polak
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006892:Hydroxydopamines; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases