title: Further observations on the role of nitric oxide in the feline lateral geniculate nucleus.
abstract: We have examined the responses of a population of 77 cells in the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) of the anaesthetized, paralysed cat. Here the synthetic enzyme for the production of nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase, is found only in the presynaptic terminals of the cholinergic input from the brainstem. In our hands, iontophoretic application of inhibitors of this enzyme resulted both in significant decreases in visual responses and decreased responses to exogenous application of NMDA, effects which were reversed by coapplication of the natural substrate for nitric oxide synthase, L-arginine, but not the biologically inactive isomer, D-arginine. Nitroprusside and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), nitric oxide donors, but not L-arginine, were able to increase markedly both spontaneous activity and the responsiveness to NMDA application. Furthermore, SNAP application facilitated visual responses. Responses of cells in animals without retinal, cortical and parabrachial input to the LGN suggest a postsynaptic site of action of nitric oxide. This modulation of the gain of visual signals transmitted to the cortex suggests a completely novel pathway for nitric oxide regulation of function, as yet described only in primary sensory thalamus of the mammalian central nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud I (Univ. La Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cudeiro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rivadulla
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rodriguez
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Martinez-Conde
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Grieve
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Acu-na
mesh_terms: D000344:Afferent Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002415:Cats; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004569:Electroencephalography / Q000187:drug effects; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007478:Iontophoresis; D008959:Models, Neurological; D016202:N-Methylaspartate / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D019335:Nitroarginine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010243:Paralysis; D010396:Penicillamine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D026423:S-Nitroso-N-Acetylpenicillamine; D013569:Synapses / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014794:Visual Fields; D014796:Visual Perception; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009599:Nitroprusside; D019335:Nitroarginine; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D016202:N-Methylaspartate; D026423:S-Nitroso-N-Acetylpenicillamine; D001120:Arginine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D010396:Penicillamine