title: Heme oxygenase-2 expression at rat neuromuscular junctions.
abstract: The neuromuscular junction is specialized for rapid transmission of electrical signals. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is concentrated at the junction, and NO modulates transmission and could influence signaling pathways. Increasing evidence suggests that carbon monoxide (CO) serves as a neurotransmitter, and heme oxygenase (HO), the enzyme that catalyzes the formation of CO, is often colocalized with NOS. Immunoreactivity for HO-2 was present at rat neuromuscular junctions of leg muscles and persisted in denervated muscle indicating the localization of the enzyme to the postsynaptic surface. In contrast, HO-2 immunoreactivity was absent from the en grappe and orbital en plaque endplates of extraocular muscle (EOM), while only the global en plaque endplates possessed HO-2 immunoreactivity. The difference between EOM and leg endplates may arise from EOM's unique physiology. The presence of HO-2 at neuromuscular junctions suggests CO could serve as a pre- and post-synaptic messenger.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Cleveland Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
authors.forename: L L
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: Kusner
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Kaminski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002038:Bungarotoxins / Q000378:metabolism; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000378:metabolism*; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000378:metabolism*; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000201:enzymology*; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000201:enzymology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009801:Oculomotor Muscles / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew
chemical_list: D002038:Bungarotoxins; D007527:Isoenzymes; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); C105245:heme oxygenase-2