title: [Changes of neuronal nitric oxide synthase-immunopositive neurons in the central amygdaloid nucleus of spontaneously hypertensive rats].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To observe the changes of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-immunopositive neurons in the central amygdaloid nucleus of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty SHRs and 30 Wistar-Koyto rats (WKYs) were sacrificed at the ages of 90, 180, and 360 days respectively to observe the changes of nNOS-immunopositive neurons with ABC immunocytochemical assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant changes were observed in the blood pressure of WKY rats at the specified time points, when SHRs maintained significantly higher blood pressures from 20.8+/-1.1 and 26.3+/-1.0 kPa (P<0.05), gradually increasing during the development of hypertension. The nNOS-immunopositive neurons in the central amygdaloid nucleus were of moderate sizes with long intersected nerve fibers. No significant changes were found in WKY rats. The number of the positive neurons decreased with age in SHRs, especially obvious at 360 days (P<0.05), which was significantly different from that in the WKYs (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The reduction of nNOS-immunopositive neurons in the central amygdaloid nucleus of SHRs might accelerate the development of hypertension by modulating the cardiovascular function and sensory transmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Medical College, Ji'nan University, Guangzhou 510630, China. tshenwz@jnu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Wei-zai
authors.initials: WZ
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.forename: Guo-qing
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000679:Amygdala / Q000201:enzymology*; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006973:Hypertension / Q000201:enzymology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology*; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY
chemical_list: D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I