Changes of neuronal nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactive neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus of diabetic rats.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the role of nitric oxide in the development of diabetes mellitus by observing the changes of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-immunoreactive (nNOS-ir) neurons in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN) of diabetic rats.


METHODS
Diabetic rat models were established by means of intraperitoneal streptozotocin injections. At the end of 2, 7 and 12 weeks after model establishment, tissue sampling was performed and the number of nNOS-ir neurons in PVN were counted and quantitatively analyzed.


RESULTS
The number of nNOS-ir neurons in PVN of diabetic rats remained normal 2 weeks after model establishment (P >0.05) but was significantly increased by the time of 7 weeks (P <0.05); at the 12th weeks, the number of nNOS-ir neurons of diabetic group was still greater than that of the control group (P <0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The number of nNOS-ir neurons in PVN increases significantly in middle and advanced stages of diabetes, suggesting the possible relations between the nNOS activity changes in PVN and the changes in cerebral neuroendocrine and adrenal activity in diabetic condition.
Shen
Wei-zai
WZ
Department of Anatomy, Medical College of Jinan University, Guangzhou 510630, China. tshenwz@jnu.edu.cn
Lin
Hong-sheng
HS
Guo
Guo-qing
GQ
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000201:enzymology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000032:analysis*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D010286:Paraventricular Hypothalamic Nucleus / Q000201:enzymology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013311:Streptozocin
D001786:Blood Glucose; D013311:Streptozocin; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat