title: Modulation of nitric oxide homeostasis in a mouse model of spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  A traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) immediately induces primary damage, and this is followed by secondary damage characterized by a series of events among which is a progressive extension of cell death within the damaged tissue. In this study, the authors investigated the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in an experimental model of SCI in mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  In wild-type (iNOS+/+) mice, SCI rapidly induced an inflammatory response as shown by nitrotyrosine formation, activation of the nuclear enzyme poly(adenosine diphosphate-ribose) polymerase (PARP), neutrophil infiltration, and spinal cord tissue histopathological changes, indicating the involvement of iNOS-derived massive amounts of NO in SCI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Genetic inhibition of iNOS, however, resulted in a significant reduction in secondary damage, and this therapeutic efficacy was associated with the prevention of an SCI-induced drop in neuronal and endothelial NOS activity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, University of Messina, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Genovese
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mazzon
authors.forename: Sofia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mariotto
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Menegazzi
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cardali
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Hisanori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Placido
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bramanti
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cuzzocrea
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006706:Homeostasis; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II