title: Increased neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression in brain following portacaval anastomosis.
abstract: It has previously been suggested that increases of L-arginine uptake into brain following portacaval shunting may result in increased activities of constitutive neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). In order to further address this issue, nNOS protein and gene expression were studied by Western blot analysis using a monoclonal nNOS antibody and RT-PCR respectively in the brains of rats following portacaval shunting or sham operation. Portacaval shunting resulted in a 2-fold increase (P < 0.01) in nNOS protein and a concomitant 2.4-fold increase (P < 0.01) in nNOS mRNA. Increased nNOS activity in brain and the resulting increase in nitric oxide production could contribute to the increased cerebral blood flow and to the pathogenesis of hepatic encephalopathy in chronic liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Neuroscience Research Unit, Hôpital Saint-Luc (University of Montreal), Qué., Canada.
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Audet
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Butterworth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D017931:DNA Primers; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019335:Nitroarginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011167:Portacaval Shunt, Surgical; D012313:RNA / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019335:Nitroarginine; D012313:RNA; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase