title: Distribution of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent diaphorase staining in intraparenchymal blood vessels of the rat brain.
abstract: The distribution of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent diaphorase (nitric oxide synthase, NOS) in the endothelial lining of intraparenchymal blood vessels was examined in sections of rat brain prepared from 500 microns thick slices of brain fixed by immersion or from blocks of tissue taken from whole brains fixed by vascular perfusion. In immersion-fixed tissue, a network of stained vessels, many as small as 3 microns in diameter was seen throughout the grey and white matter. In tissue fixed by perfusion small calibre vessels less than 5 microns were less prevalent. The results indicate that NOS is normally present in the endothelial lining throughout the cerebrovascular tree, including the capillaries. Endothelium-derived nitric oxide could have a more widespread role in the regulation of cerebral blood flow than considered previously.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Medical School, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Lovick
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Key
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000201:enzymology*; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000201:enzymology; D009249:NADP / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D009249:NADP