title: Reactive astrocytes express nitric oxide synthase in the spinal cord of transgenic mice expressing a human Cu/Zn SOD mutation.
abstract: The distribution of the neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the spinal cord of transgenic mice expressing a mutated human copper/zinc superoxide dismutase gene was enhanced when investigated by immunocytochemistry. Immunocytochemistry showed intensely stained NOS-immunoreactive (IR) glial cells with the appearance of astrocytes in the spinal cord and brain stem of transgenic mice, but none were observed at these sites in control mice. Using antisera directed against GFAP, the specific marker for astrocyte, the glial cells were confirmed by immunocytochemistry to be astrocytes. This immunocytochemical evidence suggests that nitric oxide may mediate glutamate neurotoxicity, and this study provides the first in vivo evidence that nitric oxide may be implicated in the pathologic process of human familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, Seoul National University.
authors.forename: C I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Y S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gurney
authors.forename: K W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000201:enzymology; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012154:Reticular Formation / Q000201:enzymology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; C496320:NOS1 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496321:Nos1 protein, mouse; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase