title: Structural interactions between NOS-positive neurons and blood vessels in the hippocampus.
abstract: The anatomical relationship between nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-positive neurons and blood vessels was examined in the hippocampus of the rat. NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry was used to identify NOS-positive neurons by light-microscopy. A close association of somatic, dendritic and axonal processes of NOS-positive neurons with cerebral blood vessels was observed. These findings suggest the possibility of neurovascular signaling by local NOS-containing neurons, through direct vascular innervation by terminals generating nitric oxide, and paracrine signaling from closely apposed somatic and dendritic neuronal elements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Virginia, Charlottesville 22908, USA.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Schottler
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fergus
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Okonkwo
authors.forename: N F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Kassell
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000032:analysis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase