In situ identification of messenger RNA of endothelial type nitric oxide synthase in rat cardiac myocytes.
The endothelial type nitric oxide synthase (NOS) termed as NOS-III has been demonstrated in various nonendothelial cells. Although NOS-III was recently found in the cardiac tissues, identification of the cells expressing NOS-III gene in the heart remains unknown. In this study, we compared the expression of NOS-III mRNA in various tissues of rats by Northern blot analysis using a homologous cDNA probe and identified the cell type by in situ hybridization histochemistry with a cRNA probe. NOS-III mRNA was found more abundantly in atria and ventricle than in other various tissues examined. NOS-III mRNA was intensely and specifically visualized in the cardiac myocytes as well as in the endothelial cells of the heart. No staining was seen with a sense cRNA probe. These results provide the first in vivo evidence for NOS-III mRNA in the cardiac myocytes and suggest its role in the regulation of cardiac functions.
Seki
T
T
Department of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical College, Japan.
Hagiwara
H
H
Naruse
K
K
Kadowaki
M
M
Kashiwagi
M
M
Demura
H
H
Hirose
S
S
Naruse
M
M
D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D004727:Endothelium / Q000201:enzymology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009206:Myocardium / Q000201:enzymology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase