title: Immunohistochemical analysis of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the trigeminal ganglia of the crotaline snake Trimeresurus flavoviridis.
abstract: The expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the trigeminal ganglia (TG) of the infrared-sensitive crotaline snake Trimeresurus flavoviridis was studied immunohistochemically. The percentage of nNOS-positive (+) neurons in the TG was significantly higher (about 3.5-fold, P<0.001) in the mandibular division than in the infrared-sensory processing area (the maxillary division and ophthalmic ganglion). nNOS was found in varying sizes of TG neurons. However, nNOS (+) neurons were more abundant in small and large neurons than in medium-sized neurons, which include most of the infrared-sensitive neurons of the TG. These findings suggest that nNOS may be involved in normal physiological functions, such as the transmission of tactile, vibrotactile, and nociceptive sensations in the TG, rather than in infrared sensory processing in this species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0215, Japan.
authors.forename: Changjong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Shin-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Terashima
authors.forename: Meejung
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Jongchul
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Taekyun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D048429:Cell Size / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007259:Infrared Rays; D008297:Male; D008340:Mandibular Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D008442:Maxillary Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D026602:Nitrergic Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009882:Ophthalmic Nerve / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology*; D013697:Thermosensing / Q000502:physiology*; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D017841:Trimeresurus / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase