title: Subcellular localization of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the superficial gray layer of the rat superior colliculus.
abstract: The superficial layers of the rat superior colliculus (sSC) receive innervation from retina and include nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-immunoreactive neurons. We used electron microscopic immunocytochemistry to assess the subcellular localization of neuronal NOS (nNOS) in the sSC. nNOS immunoreactivity was detected on the external membrane of mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, in pre- and postsynaptic profiles and also diffusely distributed in the cytosol. Postsynaptic labeled regions were often associated with presumptive retinal unlabeled terminals. Microtubules also appeared intensely labeled. These results show that NOS immunoreactive neurons may be innervated by retinal terminals and suggest an association of nNOS with cytoskeletal elements.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Histologia e Embriologia, ICB, Brazil.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: de Paula
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Cavalcante
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mendez-Otero
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002451:Cell Compartmentation / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008870:Microtubules / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D015388:Organelles / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013477:Superior Colliculi / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013569:Synapses / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase