title: An ultrastructural demonstration of NADPH-diaphorase/nitric oxide synthase activity in the rat striatal astroglia.
abstract: In the present study we have used electron microscopical NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemistry as a visualization procedure for nitric oxide synthase (NOS) to examine patterns of activity in the subcellular distribution of NADPH-d in the rat striatal astroglia. Electron microscopical examination revealed deposition of the NADPH-d reaction product in a nuclear envelope, fragments of endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. Predominantly mitochondria of astrocytic "end feet" were labelled. Our ultrastructural observations promote the possibility that astroglial NADPH-d/NOS is involved in adaptation of the local blood flow in the striatal microenvironment.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D015415:Biomarkers; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase