Myenteric neurons and interstitial cells of Cajal of mouse colon express several nitric oxide synthase isoforms.
Information on equipment and subcellular distribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms in myenteric neurons and pacemaker cells (ICC) might help to identify nitric oxide (NO) pathway(s) acting on gastrointestinal motility. In sections of mouse colon labelled with neuronal (n)NOS, endothelial (e)NOS and inducible (i)NOS antibodies, all myenteric neurons co-expressed eNOS and iNOS and a subpopulation of them co-expressed nNOS. ICC co-expressed nNOS and eNOS. In the neurons, nNOS-labeling was intracytoplasmatic, in the ICC at cell periphery. In both cell types, eNOS-labeling was on intracytoplasmatic granules, likely mitochondria. In conclusion, myenteric neurons and ICC co-express several NOS isoforms with specific subcellular distribution. Different nNOS splice variants are presumably present: intracytoplasmatic nNOSbeta and nNOSalpha producing neurogenic NO, plasma membrane-bound nNOSalpha producing ICCgenic NO. eNOS might be implicated in mitochondrial respiration and, in ICC, also in pacemaker activity. Neurons express iNOS also in basal condition.
Vannucchi
M-G
MG
Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Forensic Medicine, Section of Histology 'E. Allara', University of Florence, Viale G. Pieraccini 6, 50139 Florence, Italy.
Corsani
L
L
Bani
D
D
Faussone-Pellegrini
M-S
MS
D017398:Alternative Splicing; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D003106:Colon / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000294:innervation; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000201:enzymology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000201:enzymology / Q000294:innervation; D009197:Myenteric Plexus / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
D007527:Isoenzymes; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496321:Nos1 protein, mouse; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse; C496315:Nos3 protein, mouse