Regulation and localization of neuronal nitric oxide synthase in the ischemic rabbit spinal cord.
The expression and cellular localization of neuronal nitric oxide (NO) synthase (nNOS) were studied in the rabbit spinal cord following ischemic injury induced by clamping the descending aorta. In the normal spinal cord, nNOS immunoreactivity was localized to certain motor neurons located in the margin of the ventral horn. Following transient ischemia, immunoreactive spinal neurons increased in number, peaking five days after reperfusion. Quantitative evaluation by western blotting showed that nNOS peaked at 180% of control levels five days after reperfusion and decreased to 120% of controls by 14 days. These findings suggest that overproduced NO may act as a neurotoxic agent in the ischemic spinal cord.
In
Jang-Hyeok
JH
Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 137-701, Korea.
Lee
Eun-Jin
EJ
Lee
Byung-Ho
BH
Lim
Yong-Gul
YG
Chun
Myung-Hoon
MH
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D011817:Rabbits; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000201:enzymology; D020760:Spinal Cord Ischemia / Q000201:enzymology*
D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I