[Histochemical studies on the change of nitric oxide synthetase in lateral geniculate nucleus of monocular deprived kittens].
OBJECTIVE
To observe the change of nitric oxide synthetase (NOS) in lateral geniculate nucleus of normal and monocular deprived kittens and to discuss the role of nitric oxide in the etiopathology of amblyopia.


METHODS
The distribution of nitric oxide synthetase in lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of normal and monocular deprived kittens had been studied by using nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-diaphorase histochemical method (NDP).


RESULTS
In normal kittens, NOS positive cells were not seen in any lamina of LGN, but NOS positive fibers were discovered. In monocular deprived kittens, NOS positive fibers were seen in every layers of LGN, in the nondeprived laminae of LGN there was strip-shaped distribution of NOS positive cells, and in the deprived laminae the NOS positive cells were occasionally seen.


CONCLUSIONS
NOS might act as a new class of neurotransmitter and be involved in the formation of emblyopia.
Gao
Jianhua
J
Department of Ophthalmology, Kunming General Hospital, Kunming 650032, China. jhgao66@163.com
Zhang
Donggao
D
Gong
Shuzheng
S
D000550:Amblyopia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D005829:Geniculate Bodies / Q000201:enzymology*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D012683:Sensory Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D015349:Vision, Monocular / Q000502:physiology*
D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase