title: Decreased neuronal nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactivity and NADPH-diaphorase activity in rat pterygopalatine ganglion parasympathetic neurons and cerebrovascular innervation following long-term sympathectomy.
abstract: Neural control of tissue perfusion is mediated predominantly by sympathetic vasoconstrictor and, in some tissues, parasympathetic vasodilator systems. The objective of this study was to determine if changes occur within parasympathetic vasodilator neurons supplying cranial vessels after sympathectomy. Cranial sympathetic innervation was excised unilaterally, and 6 weeks later pterygopalatine ganglion neurons were evaluated for expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity (NOS-ir) and NADPH-diaphorase activity. Relative to the unoperated side, the number of parasympathetic neurons staining densely either for NOS or for NADPH-diaphorase decreased by 37% and 47%, respectively, whereas unstained somata increased by 51% and 48%. Internal carotid artery NOS-ir innervation density was reduced by 35%. These findings are consistent with a down-regulation of nitrergic properties in some cranial parasympathetic neurons after sympathectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City 66160-7401, USA.
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Warn
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: P G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000918:Antibody Specificity; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000294:innervation; D002452:Cell Count; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005726:Ganglia, Parasympathetic / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013562:Sympathectomy; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase