Up-regulation of nitric oxide synthase and its mRNA in vagal motor nuclei following axotomy in rat.
Effects of vagotomy on nitric oxide synthase (NOS) protein and mRNA levels in the dorsal motor nucleus of vagus (DMV) and nucleus ambiguus (NA) of rats were examined by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d) staining, brain NOS (bNOS) immunostaining and in situ hybridization. NADPH-d staining and bNOS immunoreactivity increased in neurons of the ipsilateral DMV and NA 5, 10, and 20 days after vagotomy. These changes were not observed in unoperated or sham-operated rats. In situ hybridization showed that bNOS mRNA levels were also elevated in neurons of DMV and NA on the operated side. Our results suggest that transection of vagal efferents up-regulates bNOS and its mRNA expression in the DMV and NA.
Lin
L H
LH
Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa City 52242, USA.
Sandra
A
A
Boutelle
S
S
Talman
W T
WT
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000502:physiology*; D003714:Denervation; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D014628:Vagotomy; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
D015347:RNA Probes; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase