Distribution of constitutive nitric oxide synthase in the jejunum of adult rat.
OBJECTIVE
To study the distribution of the constitutive nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the jejunum of adult rat.


METHODS
The distribution of endothelial NOS (eNOS) was detected by immunohistochemistry. Immunofluorescence histochemical dual staining technique were used for studying the distribution of neuronal NOS (nNOS) and eNOS. The dual stained slides were observed under a confocal laser scanning microscope.


RESULTS
Positive neuronal NOS (nNOS) and endothelial NOS (eNOS) cells were found to be distributed in lamina propria of villi, and the epithelial cell was not stained. eNOS was mainly located in submucosal vascular endothelia, while nNOS was mainly situated in myenteric plexus. Some cells in the villi had both nNOS and eNOS. More than 80% of the cells were positive for both nNOS and eNOS, the rest cells were positive either for nNOS or for eNOS.


CONCLUSIONS
The two constitutive nitric oxide synthases are distributed differently in the jejunum of rat. nNOS distributed in myenteric plexus is a neurotransmitter in the non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) inhibitory nerves. eNOS distributed in endothelial and smooth muscle cells of blood vessels plays vasodilator role. eNOS and nNOS are coexpressed in some cells of lamina propria of villi. NO generated by those NOS is very important in the physiological and pathological process of small intestine.
Chen
Yan-Min
YM
Life Science College, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang 050016, Hebei Province, China.
Qian
Zhong-Ming
ZM
Zhang
Jian
J
Chang
Yan-Zhong
YZ
Duan
Xiang-Lin
XL
D000818:Animals; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007583:Jejunum / Q000201:enzymology*; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat