title: Regional distribution of prostaglandin H synthase-2 and neuronal nitric oxide synthase in piglet brain.
abstract: Immunohistochemical techniques were used to examine the distribution of prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS)-2 and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in piglet brain. Samples from parietal cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum were immersion fixed in 10% formalin, sectioned at 50 microm, and immunostained using specific antibodies against PGHS-2 and nNOS. Immunoreactivity for PGHS-2 was extensive throughout the areas examined. For example, PGHS-2 immunoreactive cells were present in all layers of the cortex, but were particularly dense among neurons in layers II/II, V, and VI. In addition, glial cells associated with microvessels in white matter showed PGHS-2 immunoreactivity. In contrast, nNOS immunoreactive neurons were limited in number and widely dispersed across all layers of the cortex and thus did not form a definable pattern. In the hippocampus, heavy PGHS-2 immunoreactivity was present in neurons and glial cells in the subgranular region, stratum radiatum, adjacent to the hippocampal sulcus, and in CA1 and CA3 pyramidal cells. Immunostaining for nNOS displayed a different pattern from PGHS-2 in the hippocampus, and was mainly localized to the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus and the mossy fiber layer. In the cerebellum, PGHS-2 immunoreactivity was heavily represented in the Bergmann glia and to a lesser extent in cells of the granular layer, whereas nNOS was detected only in Basket cells. There are four conclusions from this study. First, PGHS-2 immunoreactivity is widely represented in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum of neonatal pigs. Second, glia cells as well as neurons can show immunoreactivity for PGHS-2. And third, the distribution of nNOS is different from PGHS-2 immunoreactivity in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and cerebellum.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthamology, Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical University, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dégì
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bari
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Beasley
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Thrikawala
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thore
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Louis
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Busija
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000032:analysis*; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000032:analysis*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000032:analysis*; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D007527:Isoenzymes; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D051546:Cyclooxygenase 2; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases