Immunohistochemical study of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in the trigeminal ganglia of a crotaline snake Trimeresurus flavoviridis.
The immunoreactivity of constitutive endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) was studied in the trigeminal ganglia (TG) of a crotaline snake, Trimeresurus flavoviridis. eNOS immunoreactivity was found in TG neurons of different sizes. The percentage of eNOS-positive TG neurons was significantly higher in the mandibular division than in the infrared-related divisions, the maxillary division and ophthalmic ganglion (p<0.001). These findings suggest that eNOS in the TG of crotaline snakes is involved in constitutive neurotransmission in the TG, and is minimally involved in processing in the infrared-sensory system.
Moon
Changjong
C
Department of Physiology, University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine, Okinawa, Japan.
Terashima
Shin-ichi
S
Shin
Taekyun
T
D000818:Animals; D004727:Endothelium / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000378:metabolism*; D017841:Trimeresurus / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology
D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase