title: [Expression of iNOS protein and gliacyte apoptosis in neonatal rats with white matter damage].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is a main rate-limiting enzyme resulting in over-production of nitric oxide following hypoxia-ischemia (HI). The aim of this study was to observe the expression of iNOS protein and gliacyte apoptosis in the brains of premature rats after HI, in order to explore possible relationships of iNOS with white matter damage (WMD).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and twelve 2-day-old premature rats were randomly subjected to right carotid ligation followed by 4 hrs hypoxic stress (WMD group) or sham operation (control group). The pups were sacrificed at 1, 3, 6, 12 hrs, and 1, 3 and 7 days after HI. Immunohistochemical technique was applied to determine the iNOS expression in periventricular white matter tissues. Gliacyte apoptosis was detected in these tissues by TUNEL.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the control group, iNOS expression began to increase 1 hr after HI and reached the peak 1 day after HI in the WMD group. Gliacyte apoptosis increased 1 hr after HI and peaked 1 day after HI in the WMD group compared with the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In the neonatal rats with WMD, the expression of iNOS may be involved in the ischemic cellular events including apoptosis, and plays a role in the pathophysiological process of WMD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
authors.forename: Hui-Qing
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Wen-Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Guo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D017209:Apoptosis; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology*; D020925:Hypoxia-Ischemia, Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D056784:Leukoencephalopathies / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000473:pathology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat