Distribution of NADPH-diaphorase in rat mesencephalon: a light and electron microscopical study.
NADPH-diaphorase is a useful technique to reveal NO producing neurons at light microscopic level (LM). A modification of the technique using the tetrazolium salt BSPT as substrate, is useful to study the ultrastructure of NO neurons. The aim of this work was to perform a detailed analysis of NADPH-diaphorase reactive neurons in rat mesencephalon both at light and electron microscopic levels. NADPH-diaphorase reactive neurons were observed in superior colliculus, in central gray matter, in dorsal and medial raphe and in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus using two histochemical techniques at LM. Electron microscopy showed deposits on membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and nuclear envelope of dorsal raphe neurons. Presynaptic and postsynaptic terminals showed deposits on membranous elements but postsynaptic terminals also showed deposits on the inner surface of their membranes. Further physiological studies are needed to clarify the meaning of the ultrastructural findings such as the putative interaction of NOS with postsynaptic proteins, receptors or membranous channels.
López-Costa
Juan J
JJ
Instituto de Biología Celular y Neurociencia Prof. E. De Robertis, Fac. Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina. jjlopez@fmed.uba.ar
Acuipil
Carolina
C
Tagliaferro
Patricia
P
Patel
Sameer
S
Ramos
Javier
J
Brusco
Alicia
A
Pecci Saavedra
Jorge
J
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology; D006056:Golgi Apparatus / Q000378:metabolism; D008636:Mesencephalon / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase