title: Kindling induces a long-lasting increase in brain nitric oxide synthase activity.
abstract: Generalized seizures induced by kindling are associated with a long-term increase in vasopressin mRNA expression in vasopressin neuroendocrine cells. Since nitric oxide synthase activity is strongly expressed in these neurons and may play a role in mechanisms of plasticity, we used NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry to examine nitric oxide synthase activity 1 month after amygdala kindling. Both the number of stained neurons and average intensity of cellular labeling in the supraoptic nucleus were increased in the kindled rats. In adjacent limbic regions, terminal-like staining was also increased, suggesting a general elevation of limbic nitric oxide synthase activity. Thus, increased nitric oxide production may play a role in sustaining the increase in vasopressin mRNA and plastic changes in the amygdala associated with kindling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599-7025, USA.
authors.forename: W M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: al-Ghoul
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Meeker
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Greenwood
mesh_terms: D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000679:Amygdala; D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain; D002452:Cell Count; D007696:Kindling, Neurologic; D008297:Male; D009249:NADP; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D009833:Olfactory Pathways; D051381:Rats; D012640:Seizures
chemical_list: D009249:NADP; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases