Response of NADPH-diaphorase-exhibiting neurons in the medullar reticular formation to high spinal cord injury.
1. The effect of hemisection of the cervical spinal cord on NADPH-diaphorase staining in the reticular nuclei of the rabbit medulla was investigated using histochemical technique. 2. A quantitative assessment of somal and neuropil NADPH-diaphorase staining was made by an image analyzer in a selected area of each reticular nucleus of the rabbit medulla. 3. On the 7th postsurgery day, the highest up-regulation of somatic NADPH-diaphorase staining was observed in regions regulating cardiorespiratory processes; however, the highest increase of neuropil NADPH-diaphorase staining was found in the reticular nuclei modulating the tonus of postural muscles. 4. The degeneration of non-NADPH-diaphorase-stained neurons was detected throughout the reticular formation of the medulla, but the extent of neuronal death did not correlate with the up-regulation of the NADPH-diaphorase staining in the reticular nuclei of the medulla. 5. The findings provide evidence that NADPH-diaphorase-exhibiting neurons are refractory to the hemisection of the cervical spinal cord and that the neuronal up-regulation of NADPH-diaphorase at the medullar level is probably not a causative factor leading to the death of the reticulospinal neurons.
Kucharova
Karolina
K
Institute of Neurobiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Kosice, Slovak Republic. kuchar@saske.sk
Jalc
Pavol
P
Radonak
Jozef
J
Marsala
Jozef
J
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology*; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D009474:Neurons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology*; D011817:Rabbits; D012154:Reticular Formation / Q000737:chemistry / Q000201:enzymology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000201:enzymology*
D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase