Nitric oxide synthase and cytochrome c oxidase changes in the tumoural and peritumoural cerebral cortex.
BACKGROUND
We analysed changes in nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and cytochrome oxidase (CO) activities in the tumoural and peritumoural cerebral cortex in order to investigate: a) the role of NO in tumourigenesis, in TBF regulation, and in vasogenetic PBE; b) the metabolic changes caused by the neoplasm in the surrounding tissues.


METHODS
Intra-operative samples of cerebral cortex were studied by means of immunohistochemistry for nNOS and iNOS, and by histochemistry for NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) and CO.


RESULTS
In contrast with normal cortex, reactive glial cells and the endothelium of small blood vessels displayed strong NADPH-d and iNOS activities in oedematous peritumoural tissue. In the tumoural cortex, NADPH-d and nNOS-positive neurones were reduced in number and their dendrites were thin and interrupted, and infiltrates of NADPH-d and iNOS-positive tumoural cells were frequent. CO activity was decreased in the deep layers of peritumoural cortex, and it was almost absent in the tumoural cortex.


CONCLUSIONS
In peritumoural and tumoural cortex changes in NOS and CO activities suggest that the coupling between neuronal activity and blood flow is impaired in the damaged cerebral cortex, and that the increase in NOS activity may play a role in tumour vascularization and progression.
Garbossa
D
D
Department of Neuroscience (Neurosurgery Section), University of Torino, Italy.
Fontanella
M
M
Pagni
C A
CA
Vercelli
A
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000556:secondary; D000368:Aged; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005909:Glioblastoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000098:blood supply / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV