Cytochemical correlates of the sleep-wake interface: concerted expression of brain-derived nitric oxide synthase (bNOS) and the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) in a columnoid organization of the primate prefrontal cortex.
Nitric oxide (NO) was recently proposed to be involved in the sleep-wake cycle and cortical spreading depression. As a structural correlate of these functions, we found that bNOS IR was expressed by three cell types in the prefrontal cortex, viz. bipolar, multipolar, and stellate cells. Dendrites of bipolar cells established bundles resulting in a columnoid organization; in addition, the monoclonal antibody mAb 35 which labels subunits alpha1, alpha3 and alpha5 of nAChR, also visualized apical axons proceeding alongside the columnoids. In contrast, alpha-bungarotoxin which labels the alpha7-subunit of nAChR, visualized only perikarya of interneurons from where the apical axons arose. In the prefrontal cortex of monkeys which were anesthetized for 6-24 hours, only traces of the columnoid organization were found, while perikaryal bNOS and nAChR were invariably expressed. It is suggested that interactions between NO and presynaptically released ACh might be involved in cortical functions such as the sleep/wake cycle.
Csillik
Bertalan
B
Department of Anatomy, Albert Szent-Györgyi University Medical School, 40, Kossuth Lajos sgt., 6701 Szeged, Hungary. csillik@anat-fm.szote.u-szeged.hu
Mihaly
Andras
A
Knyihar-Csillik
Elizabeth
E
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D003712:Dendrites / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011323:Primates; D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic / Q000378:metabolism*
D011978:Receptors, Nicotinic; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I