title: Region-specific alterations of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expression in the amygdala of the aged rats.
abstract: Although many amygdalar functions are altered by aging, little is known about their mechanisms. As these functions are related with nitric oxide (NO), we examined neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) expression in the amygdala of the aged rats via immunohistochemical technique. We found that nNOS immunoreactive neurons are decreased in almost all amygdalar areas of the aged rats, while nNOS immunoreactivity of the neuropil is significantly increased in the amygdalar nuclei related with main and accessory olfactory system. These suggest altered levels of NO might provide region-specific mechanisms of many physiological and behavioral deficits of the amygdala developed by aging. However, exact effects of these changes require further elucidation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28 Yongon-Dong, Chongno-Gu, Seoul 110-799, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyeung Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.forename: Yoon Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Chung Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Yun Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Choong Ik
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Cha
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000679:Amygdala / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D000818:Animals; D015536:Down-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D017729:Presynaptic Terminals / Q000201:enzymology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat