TY - JOUR
T1 - Distribution of NADPH-diaphorase in rat mesencephalon
T2 - A light and electron microscopical study
AU - Lopez-Costa, Juan J.
AU - Acuipil, Carolina
AU - Tagliaferro, Patricia
AU - Patel, Sameer
AU - Ramos, Javier
AU - Brusco, Alicia
AU - Pecci Saavedra, Jorge
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - NADPH-diaphorase is a useful technique to reveal NO producing neurons at light microscopic level (LM). A modification of the technique using the tetrazolium salt BSPT as susbtrate, is useful to study the ultrastructure of NO neurons. The aim of this work was to perform a detailed analysis of NADPH-diaphorase reactive neurons in rat mesencephalon both at light and electron microscopic levels. NADPH-diaphorase reactive neurons were observed in superior colliculus, in central gray matter, in dorsal and medial raphe and in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus using two histochemical techniques at LM. Electron microscopy showed deposits on membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and nuclear envelope of dorsal raphe neurons. Presynaptic and postsynaptic terminals showed deposits on membranous elements but postsynaptic terminals also showed deposits on the inner surface of their membranes. Further physiological studies are needed to clarify the meaning of the ultrastructural findings such as the putative interaction of NOS with postsynaptic proteins, receptors or membranous channels.
AB - NADPH-diaphorase is a useful technique to reveal NO producing neurons at light microscopic level (LM). A modification of the technique using the tetrazolium salt BSPT as susbtrate, is useful to study the ultrastructure of NO neurons. The aim of this work was to perform a detailed analysis of NADPH-diaphorase reactive neurons in rat mesencephalon both at light and electron microscopic levels. NADPH-diaphorase reactive neurons were observed in superior colliculus, in central gray matter, in dorsal and medial raphe and in the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus using two histochemical techniques at LM. Electron microscopy showed deposits on membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and nuclear envelope of dorsal raphe neurons. Presynaptic and postsynaptic terminals showed deposits on membranous elements but postsynaptic terminals also showed deposits on the inner surface of their membranes. Further physiological studies are needed to clarify the meaning of the ultrastructural findings such as the putative interaction of NOS with postsynaptic proteins, receptors or membranous channels.
KW - Mesencephalon
KW - NADPH-diaphorase
KW - Nitric oxide
KW - Raphe
KW - Rat
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0036038964&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 12240559
AN - SCOPUS:0036038964
SN - 0327-9545
VL - 26
SP - 247
EP - 252
JO - Biocell
JF - Biocell
IS - 2
ER -