title: Comparative distribution of nitric oxide synthase- and serotonin-containing neurons in the raphe nuclei of four mammalian species.
abstract: Monoclonal antibodies were generated against serotonin (5-HT) and the C-terminal portion of the neuronal form of nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), the enzyme producing nitric oxide in neurons. These antibodies were used to compare the distribution of 5-HT- and nNOS-containing neurons in the raphe nuclei of four animal species (rat, mouse, guinea pig, and cat). It was found that the rat was the only species in which the raphe nuclei contain a substantial number of nNOS-immunoreactive (IR) cell bodies. In this species and as observed by other authors, all mesencephalic raphe nuclei contained nNOS-IR cells, the largest group being located in the nucleus raphe dorsalis. The coexistence of nNOS and 5-HT immunoreactivities in these nuclei was visualized by double labeling. In the medulla, the nuclei raphe magnus and obscurus displayed a rather low number of nNOS-IR neurons. In the other species, nNOS-IR cell bodies were found in very low numbers, whatever raphe nucleus was considered. The rostral pole of the nucleus raphe dorsalis and the nuclei raphe magnus and obscurus contained a few nNOS-IR neurons which did not show any coincidence with the 5-HT neurons. In addition, nNOS-IR axons were rare. It is concluded that in the mouse, guinea pig, and cat the involvement of nitric oxide in functions subserved by 5-HT within the raphe nuclei might be minimal.
authors.affiliation: Département de Médecine Expérimentale, Lyon, France. leger@summeil.univ-lyon1.fr
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Léger
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Charnay
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burlet
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gay
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Schaad
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bouras
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cespuglio
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D051379:Mice; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D011903:Raphe Nuclei / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D012701:Serotonin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D012701:Serotonin; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496321:Nos1 protein, mouse; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat