Changes in NADPH-diaphorase activity in the rat dorsal horn following an acute experimental myositis.
Previous neurophysiological experiments have shown that in rats with an acute myositis of the gastrocnemius-soleus muscle, dorsal horn neurones exhibit an increase in responsiveness to peripheral stimulation and in background activity. The present study investigated the possible correlation between changes in NADPH-diaphorase activity and neurophysiological alterations. In the animals used for the electrophysiological experiments the diaphorase activity in sections of the lumbar spinal cord was determined with the NADPH-nitroblue tetrazolium reaction. The main findings was a massive reduction in the number of diaphorase-positive cells in the superficial dorsal horn in animals with a myositis. The staining intensity in the remaining neurones was unchanged. The results are interpreted as indicating that the myositis in addition to the surgical operations represents a supramaximal input to the dorsal horn causing neurotoxic effects in diaphorase- positive neurones.
Hoheisel
U
U
Institut für Anatomie und Zellbiologie, Heidelberg, Germany.
Reinert
A
A
Mense
S
S
D000208:Acute Disease; D000818:Animals; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D009220:Myositis / Q000201:enzymology*; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology; D051381:Rats; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*
D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase