title: Nitric oxide, a neuronal messenger. Its role in the hippocampus neuronal plasticity.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO), a free radical gas, has recently been recognized as an important messenger molecule having a neurotransmitter-like function. Studies on the localization of the enzyme synthesizing NO (NO synthase-NOS) have indicated its presence in almost all parts of the brain with a prevalence in the cerebellum. From recent experimental investigations it is apparent that NO might meet the essential criteria to function as a retrograde messenger for Long-term potentiation in hippocampal cells, a process known to be involved in mammalian learning and memory. However, within the hippocampus NO is present in a few cell types which probably form the local neuronal circuit. Thus NO might function as a paracrine factor rather than a retrograde messenger in the hippocampal neurons.
authors.affiliation: CNR Institute of Cybernetics, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Salemme
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diano
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Maharajan
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maharajan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D017774:Long-Term Potentiation; D008251:Macaca; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D015290:Second Messenger Systems / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase