Postnatal development and age-related changes in the distribution of nitric oxide synthase-immunoreactive neurons in the visual system of rats.
We have determined postnatal development and age-related changes in the distribution of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in the visual system including superior colliculus (SC), dorsal nucleus of lateral geniculate body (dLGB) and visual cortex of rats. In SC, the number and intensity of immunoreactive cells were increased until postnatal day 21 (P21), and were comparably decreased during the following days. Both neurons and neuropil were intensely stained in dLGB at P21, and the staining intensity was decreased in aged rats. The number of nNOS-immunoreactive cells was increased from P7 to P28 and was decreased in aged rats. The first demonstration of different staining patterns in SC, dLGB and visual cortex during the postnatal days and aging suggests that NO may mediate both postnatal refinement and age-associated visual deficits in some brain regions.
Chung
Yoon Hee
YH
Department of Anatomy, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28 Yongon-Dong, Chongno-Gu, Seoul 110-799, South Korea.
Joo
Kyeung Min
KM
Lee
Yun Jung
YJ
Shin
Dong Hoon
DH
Cha
Choong Ik
CI
D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development
D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; C496322:Nos1 protein, rat