Distribution of nitric oxide in the nasal mucosa of the rat: a histochemical study.
We evaluated the distribution of nitric oxide (NO) in the rat nasal mucosa using nicotineamide adenosine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase histochemistry. The NADPH-diaphorase positive nerve fibers in the nasal mucosa were observed around blood vessels and submucosal glands and in sphenopalatine ganglions. Strong positive reactions for NADPH-diaphorase were observed in ganglions as compared with the other tissues. In septal and turbinate mucosa, positive reactions for NADPH-diaphorase were mainly seen in the anterior portion, and a few positive reactions were observed in the posterior portion. No positive reactions for NADPH-diaphorase were demonstrated in the sinus mucosa. These results suggest that NO may be related to regulation of blood flow, glandular secretion and neurotransmission, and also that NO may play an important role in the defense mechanism of the upper airway system against external environments.
Kim
Y D
YD
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Taegu, South Korea.
Kwon
O C
OC
Song
S Y
SY
Suh
J S
JS
Song
K W
KW
Kwon
S H
SH
Min
Y G
YG
D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase