Alterations in dendritic morphology of hippocampal neurons in adult rats after neonatal administration of N-omega-nitro-L-arginine.
The dendritic length and dendritic-spine density of the pyramidal neurons of the prefrontal cortex and the CA1 hippocampus of rats using the nonselective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N-omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) at different postnatal day (P) periods of the brain development (P1-P3, P4-P6, and P7-P9) were assessed using Golgi-Cox staining after puberty (P60). At P4-P6, the L-NNA treatment produced a significant decrease of the dendritic length and dendritic-spine density of the pyramidal cells of the CA1 hippocampus. In addition, the dendritic length of the pyramidal neurons of the CA1 hippocampus decreased because of the L-NNA treatment at P1-P3. These data suggest that during a specific step in the development of the brain, the nitric oxide levels may play a critical role in the morphological modifications of the pyramidal neurons of the CA1 hippocampus at postpubertal age.
Morales-Medina
Julio César
JC
Laboratorio de Neuropsiquiatría, Instituto de Fisiología, Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Puebla, México.
Mejorada
Alejandro
A
Romero-Curiel
Alejandra
A
Flores
Gonzalo
G
D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D003712:Dendrites / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D019335:Nitroarginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D017966:Pyramidal Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D016622:Silver Staining / Q000379:methods
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D019335:Nitroarginine; D052248:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I