Glial and neuronal localization of neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity in the median eminence of female rats.
Localization of neuronal nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactivity (nNOS-IR) in the median eminence of female rats (n=4) was examined by electron microscopy to explore the possibility that nitric oxide is involved in the terminal regulation of neurosecretory peptides such as GnRH. Under light microscopy, a dense distribution of nNOS-IR was observed in this region. Electronmicroscopically, nNOS-IR was found in glial elements and nerve terminals containing dense-core vesicles. We also found a few nNOS-immunopositive synapses, in which intense immunoreactivity was found on the postsynaptic density and mitochondrial membrane. The localization of nNOS-IR in nerve terminals and glial elements in the median eminence might indicate that nNOS plays a role in regulating the release of neurosecretory peptide.
Kawakami
S
S
School of Agricultural Sciences, Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-01, Japan.
Ichikawa
M
M
Yokosuka
M
M
Tsukamura
H
H
Maeda
K
K
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007158:Immunologic Techniques; D008473:Median Eminence / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000201:enzymology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat