title: Cellular localization of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS-1) in the human and rat retina.
abstract: The neuronal form of nitric oxide synthase (NOS-1) has been localized to several cell types in the retinas of experimental animals; however, localization in the human retina has not been definitive. By using in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, we have compared the cellular expression and localization of NOS-1 in the rat and human retinas. In both rat and human retinas, NOS-1 is expressed in the inner segments of photoreceptors, cells in the inner nuclear layer, particularly amacrine cells, and retinal ganglion cells. In human cones, NOS-1 is abundantly present in the outer segments. In the rat, optic nerve transection caused a loss of cells that were positive for NOS-1 in the ganglion cell layer. Although a retinal ganglion cell localization has not been reported consistently in the literature, our data clearly localize NOS-1 to the retinal ganglion cells of the rat and human retinas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110, USA. neufelda@am.seer.wustl.edu
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Neufeld
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shareef
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pena
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D020221:Optic Nerve Injuries / Q000201:enzymology; D010786:Photoreceptor Cells / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D012160:Retina / Q000201:enzymology; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: C496320:NOS1 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat