NADPH-diaphorase expression in the meibomian glands of rat palpebra in postnatal development.
In the current study, we aimed at investigating the presence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) positive nerve fibers in rat meibomian glands (MGs) at various stages of development. There is good evidence to suggest that nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPH-d) is a surrogate for neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Sections of the central, upper eyelids of Wistar rats were processed histochemically for NADPH-d to investigate the presence and distribution of NOS-positive nerve fibers at the following time points: day 1 and weeks 1, 2 and 3 post partum, and in adult controls. At day 1, MG acini were lightly stained and located at a distance from the mucosal border. Vessels were accompanied by intensely stained NADPH-d positive nerve fibers. At the week 1 time point, both the vessels and the NADPH-d positive fibers were still present, but less numerous. MGs were now closer to the mucosa, so that the submucosa was thinner. The acini were mostly pale but occasionally darker. At week 3, there were fewer blood vessels in both the submucosa and within the septa. Darker acini were more common than lightly stained acini. NADPH-d positive dots were observed in the vicinity of the MGs. At the week 3 time point, MGs were adjacent to the mucosal border and stained more intensely than at earlier times; almost all acini were stained. The microscopic appearances were almost identical with those of adult palpebra. Submucosal and septal blood vessels and NADPH-d positive nerve fibers were less numerous. NADPH-d histochemical staining confirmed differences in the density of stained nerve fibers at different developmental stages. The greatest density of NADPH-d -positive nerve fibers occurred in 1-day-old rats whereas they were less numerous in adult rat eyelids. Nerves innervating MGs utilize nitric oxide (NO) as a neurotransmitter mostly in early developmental stages and this need thereafter decreases and stabilizes at 3 weeks postnatally.
Dept. of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University of P.J. Safarik, Kosice, Slovakia. kluchova@hotmail.com
D
D
Kluchova
A
A
Bolekova
Ch
Ch
Heichel
A J
AJ
Bron
I
I
Kozak
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D005143:Eyelids / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D008537:Meibomian Glands / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism*; D009412:Nerve Fibers / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D009252:NADPH Dehydrogenase
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1991 Apr 1;88(7):2811-4
1707173
Cornea. 2007 Jun;26(5):610-4
17525661
J Comp Neurol. 1985 Aug 22;238(4):466-72
4044926
Nippon Ganka Gakkai Zasshi. 1994 Aug;98(8):765-71
7942338
Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol. 1996 Oct;234(10):648-56
8897059
Neurosci Lett. 1993 May 28;155(1):61-4
7689718
Cell Mol Neurobiol. 2005 Nov;25(7):1093-105
16392039
Gen Physiol Biophys. 2002 Jun;21(2):163-74
12236545
J Comp Neurol. 2000 Apr 17;419(4):451-70
10742715
Anat Embryol (Berl). 1996 Apr;193(4):365-75
8694272
Neuron. 1992 Jan;8(1):3-11
1370373
Neuroscience. 1992;48(1):225-35
1374863
J Clin Invest. 1997 Nov 15;100(10):2424-9
9366555
J Histochem Cytochem. 1989 May;37(5):653-61
2703701
Eur J Histochem. 1996;40(1):39-44
8741098
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2001 Oct;42(11):2434-41
11581180
Ocul Surf. 2009 Apr;7(2):78-92
19383277
J Chem Neuroanat. 1994 Jul;7(1-2):35-47
7802969
Brain Res. 1986 May 14;373(1-2):153-8
3719304
Eur J Histochem. 2010 Feb 04;54(1):e5
20353912
Auton Neurosci. 2003 May 30;105(2):77-89
12798204
Exp Eye Res. 2004 Mar;78(3):409-16
15106920
J Anat. 1977 Apr;123(Pt 2):273-82
870469
Acta Ophthalmol (Copenh). 1965;43(5):642-68
4159407
Mol Vis. 2010 Jun 18;16:1132-40
20664693