Increase in nitric oxide synthase and NADPH-diaphorase in the adrenal gland of streptozotocin-diabetic Wistar rats and its prevention by ganglioside.
Levels of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and NADPH-diaphorase in adrenal glands of streptozotocin-diabetic rats of 8 and 12 weeks' duration compared with control rats were assessed with histo-chemical and biochemical techniques. Adrenal glands from streptozotocin-diabetic rats of 8 weeks' duration treated with ganglioside were examined also. In the adrenal medulla of 8-weeks- and 12-weeks-diabetic rats, NOS-immunoreactive nerve fibres were increased and decreased, respectively; additional NOS-immunoreactive and NADPH-diaphorase stained cells, which appeared to be cortical cells, were located in medulla and cortex compared with controls. Increased intensity in NADPH-diaphorase staining of the cortical cells of diabetic rats was observed also. Ganglioside treatment of the 8-weeks-diabetic rats prevented the diabetic-induced increase in NOS-immunoreactive nerve fibres. Also, it reduced most of the increase in the NOS-immunoreactive and NADPH-diaphorase stained cells and the intensity of NADPH-diaphorase staining of cortical cells. With biochemical assay, a significant increase in NOS activity was found in the adrenal glands from 8-weeks-diabetic rats, and this increase was reduced by ganglioside treatment in four out of six diabetic rats. In summary, streptozotocin-induced diabetes causes an initial increase in the levels of NOS and NADPH-diaphorase in the adrenal gland of rat, which was prevented by ganglioside treatment.
Afework
M
M
Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, U.K.
Lincoln
J
J
Belai
A
A
Burnstock
G
G
D000302:Adrenal Cortex / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development; D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D000313:Adrenal Medulla / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005732:Gangliosides; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase