Inhibition of neuronal nitric oxide synthase prevents iron-induced cerebellar Purkinje cell loss in the rat

Iron plays an important role in maintaining normal brain function. However, in many neurodegenerative diseases abnormal iron accumulation in specific brain regions has been consistently reported. In this study, we investigated the neurotoxic effect of the intracerebroventricularly injected iron on the cerebellar Purkinje cells in the rat and the role of nitric oxide (NO) in this process. The role of NO in rats administered iron (FeCl36H2O) was examined with the use of a donor of NO, L-arginine (L-Arg) and a central selective inhibitor of NO synthase, 7-nitroindazole (7-NI). For this reason, rats were divided into 5 groups: control, iron-injected, iron plus L-Arg, iron plus 7-NI, and iron plus L-Arg plus 7-NI. Means (value +/- standard deviation) of the total numbers of Purkinje cells in the cerebellum were estimated as 337 +/- 23, 209 +/- 16, 167 +/- 19, 305 +/- 26, and 265 +/- 14 thousands in the control, iron, iron plus L-Arg, iron plus 7-NI, and iron plus L-Arg plus 7-NI groups, respectively. Iron treatment alone and the combination of iron and L-Arg caused a significant reduction in the total number of cerebellar Purkinje cells. Therefore, L-Arg increased the Purkinje cell loss induced by treatment with iron. These data show that inhibition of the neuronal NOS by 7-NI can prevent some of the deleterious effects of iron on cerebellar Purkinje cells. Presence of L-arginine decreased the neuroprotective effect of 7-NI.     

Nitric oxide synthase in aging rat skeletal muscle

The neuronal isoform of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is expressed at high concentrations in skeletal muscle, and NO influences muscle contractility, glucose utilization, and free radical damage or protection. NOS activity and expression was evaluated in extensor digitorum longus (EDL), soleus, and diaphragm of 8 and 24 month old Fisher 344 rats. In 8-month-old animals, NOS activity was highest in EDL, which contained the highest percentage of NOS containing fibers, and was lowest in soleus. NOS activity and percentage of NOS containing fibers was significantly reduced in all muscle groups with age. To determine if NOS reduction correlated with free radical injury the level of lipid peroxidation, as measured by malonaldehyde equivalents, was determined. With age lipid peroxidation increased in EDL, was reduced in diaphragm, and showed a non-significant change in soleus. Therefore, a straightforward reduction of NOS activity does not correlate with lipid peroxidation. The reduction of NOS with age in skeletal muscle may be most significant for muscle metabolism and force production and be of limited significance for free radical metabolism.     

Nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity in rat spinal cord.

Immunoreactivity to nitric oxide synthase (NOS-IR) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT-IR) was detected in the adult rat spinal cord using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique. Intensely stained NOS-positive neurons with cell processes were observed in the intermediolateral cell column of the thoracic and sacral segments and around the central canal of all segments. These areas also contained ChAT-IR neurons. A number of small- to medium-sized NOS-IR cells were noted in the superficial and deeper laminae throughout the entire cord. NOS-IR was not detected in the ventral horn motoneurons, which were, however, ChAT-IR. The results indicate that NOS-IR is present in autonomic preganglionic neurons and in selected neurons in the dorsal horn and lamina X, but appears to be absent in motoneurons.     

Nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide production in in vivo-derived mast cells

Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent mediator synthesized by a variety of cells involved in inflammatory reactions. We investigated the expression of NO synthase (NOS) in rat peritoneal mast cells (PMC). Small amounts of eNOS mRNA were detected basally, whereas neither mRNA for iNOS nor nNOS was detected in unstimulated PMC. Following stimulation by antigen, interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), or anti-CD8 antibody, PMC up-regulated iNOS mRNA expression. In situ RT-PCR confirmed that iNOS mRNA originated from PMC. Production of iNOS protein was confirmed in stimulated PMC by immunohistochemistry. Upon stimulation with antigen, IFN-gamma, or anti-CD8, nitrite production was increased significantly (8.4+/-0.6, 7.6+/-0.9, and 6.6+/-0.9 microM/2x10(5) cells/48 h NO2-, respectively; P<0.01), whereas unstimulated PMC released 2.1 +/- 0.3 microM/2 x 10(5) cells/48 h NO2-. These findings demonstrate that in vivo-derived PMC transcribe and translate mRNA for NOS and produce NO.     

Carnosine and taurine protect rat cerebellar granular cells from free radical damage

Carnosine and taurine have been suggested to protect excitable tissues against oxidative stress. We have investigated the protection of cerebellar granule cells (neurons) by these compounds against free radicals generated by kainic acid (KA), and 3-morpholinosydnonimine hydrochloride (SIN-1) treatment. Carnosine decreased free radical levels in KA and SIN-1 treated cells, and increased cell viability. The KA effect, but not that of SIN-1, was dependent on the presence of external Ca2+ ions. Taurine increased cell viability, but did not decrease free radical levels. These results suggest that there are multiple pathways leading to cell death, not all of which involve decreases in intracellular free radical levels, and also indicate that multiple mechanisms of cellular defense exist against oxidative stress.     

Nitric oxide synthase inhibitors enhance plasma levels of corticosterone and ACTH

The role of nitric oxide in the regulation of adrenal steroidogenesis was examined in BALB/c mice by employing the nitric oxide synthase inhibitors N ^G-nitro L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and N ^G-nitro L-arginine (L-NNA). The administration of a single dose of nitric oxide inhibitors (50 mg kg^-1 body wt, i.p.) induced a fourfold increase in plasma corticosterone. Treatment with L-arginine (750 mg kg^-1 body wt, s.c.), but not D-arginine, completely prevented corticosterone increases induced by L-NAME. To analyse whether the activation of adrenal steroidogenesis induced by nitric oxide synthase inhibitors involved the stimulation of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis, ACTH levels were assessed. It was found that L-NAME significantly enhanced plasma ACTH concentrations. Genetic variations in this regulatory pathway are suggested by the fact that L-NAME increased corticosterone levels in BALB/c, C3H/He and DBA-2 mice, but not in C57Bl/c mice, a strain characterized by a low steroid response to stress.     

大鼠下丘脑内的一氧化氮合酶与雌激素受体双标神经元

目的:探讨一氧化氮合酶(NOS)和雌激素受体(ER)在下丘脑诸核团的分布及共存,为揭示雌激素与一氧化氮之间的内在联系提供形态学依据。方法:采用NADPH-d组织化学法并结合免疫组织化学技术,观察雌性大鼠下丘脑内NOS阳性神经元、ER阳性神经元以及NOS/ER双染神经元的形态及分布。结果:NOS阳性神经元主要分布在下丘脑室旁核、视上核、下丘脑外侧区和室周核;ER阳性神经元在下丘脑诸核团的表达不及NOS阳性神经元广泛;NOS与ER双染神经元主要分布在下丘脑的室旁核、视上核、下丘脑外侧区及室周核;其他区域可见散在分布的双染神经元。结论:NOS与ER双染神经元主要集中分布在视上核的背内侧和背外侧部及室旁核小细胞部腹内侧区,在下丘脑外侧区分布较广但比较分散,室周核呈散在分布。     

Nitric oxide protects mast cells from activation-induced cell death: the role of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase-Akt-endothelial nitric oxide synthase pathway

NO is known to suppress mast cell activation, but the role of NO in mast cell survival is unclear. Ligation of the high-affinity receptor for IgE (FcepsilonRI) resulted in NO production in mast cells within minutes. This NO production was largely dependent on NO synthase (NOS) activity and extracellular Ca(2+). The NO production required an aggregation of FcepsilonRI and was accompanied by increased phosphorylation of endothelial NOS (eNOS) at Ser1177 and Akt at Ser473. The phosphorylation of eNOS and Akt and the production of NO were abolished by the PI-3K inhibitor wortmannin. Although thapsigargin (TG) induced NO production as well, this response occurred with a considerable lag time (>10 min) and was independent of FcepsilonRI aggregation and PI-3K and NOS activity. Mast cells underwent apoptosis in response to TG but not upon FcepsilonRI ligation. However, when the NOS-dependent NO production was blocked, FcepsilonRI ligation caused sizable apoptosis, substantial mitochondrial cytochrome c release, caspase-3/7 activation, and collapse of the mitochondrial membrane potential, all of which were inhibited by the caspase-3 inhibitor z-Asp-Glu-Val-Asp-fluoromethylketone. The data suggest that the NO produced by the PI-3K-Akt-eNOS pathway is involved in protecting mast cells from cell death.     

Histamine excites rat cerebellar Purkinje cells via H2 receptors in vitro

Recent neuroanatomical studies have revealed a direct hypothalamocerebellar histaminergic pathway. However, the functional significance of the histaminergic fibers in the cerebellum is not yet clear. In this study, the effects of histamine on the firing of cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) were investigated in vitro. Histamine predominantly produced excitatory (106/111, 95.5%) and in a few cases inhibitory (5/111, 4.5%) responses in PCs. The histamine-induced excitation was not blocked by perfusing the slice with low Ca2+ high/Mg2+ medium (n = 8), supporting a direct postsynaptic action of histamine. The histamine H2 receptor antagonist ranitidine effectively blocked the excitatory response of PCs to histamine (n = 20), but triprolidine, an H1 receptor antagonist, could not significantly block the histamine-induced excitation, or only very slightly decreased the excitatory effect of histamine on the cells (n = 13). On the other hand, the highly selective H2 receptor agonist dimaprit mimicked the excitatory effect of histamine on PCs and this dimaprit-induced excitation was also blocked by ranitidine (n = 20), but not triprolidine (n = 8). However, the H1 receptor agonists betahistine and 2-thiazolylethylamine did not show any effect on the PCs (n = 9 and 14). These results reveal that histamine excites cerebellar PCs via H2 receptors and suggest that the hypothalamocerebellar histaminergic fibers may play an important role in functional activities of the cerebellum.     

Microtubule bundles in fish cerebellar Purkinje cells

Summary The initial axon segments and the cell bodies of Purkinje cells were examined in electron microscopic serial sections and toluidine blue semithin sections of goldfish cerebellum. We observed two characteristic cytoplasmic features different from those of other vertebrate neurons. 1. The areas of Nissl substance and Golgi apparatus are sharply divided in the periphery and center of the cytoplasm. 2. Microtubules fasciculated by cross-bridges in the axon hillock and initial axon segment remain bundled in the perikaryon, pass near the eccentric nucleus, and enter into the Golgi area of the central cytoplasm, where they are surrounded by mitochondria. We suggest that the intracellular fasciculated microtubules may establish a prepared pathway for fast anterograde and retrograde transport to and from the Golgi area of the cell body.     

5-Lipoxygenase in mouse cerebellar Purkinje cells

It has been suggested that the enzymatic pathway of 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) influences brain functioning and pathobiology. The mRNAs for both the enzyme 5-LOX and its activating protein FLAP have been found in the cerebellum. In this work, we investigated the cellular expression of 5-LOX in the adult mouse cerebellar cortex. We used the in situ mRNA hybridization assay, immunocytochemistry, laser capture microdissection, and our previously developed method for assaying the DNA methylation status of a putative mouse 5-LOX promoter. Since both 5-LOX mRNA in situ hybridization signal and FLAP immunoreactivity co-localize with calbindin 28 kD immunoreactivity (a Purkinje cell marker) but not with S-100β immunoreactivity (a Bergmann glia marker), the suggestion is that the 5-LOX pathway is expressed in cerebellar Purkinje cells. We found that methylation in the sites targeted by methylation-sensitive restriction endonucleases AciI and HinP1I but not BstUI and HpaII was greater in DNA samples obtained from a high-5-LOX-expressing cerebellar region (Purkinje cells) versus a low-5-LOX-expressing region (the molecular cell layer), suggesting a possible epigenetic contribution to the cell-specific 5-LOX expression in the cerebellum. We propose that Purkinje cell-localized 5-LOX and FLAP expression may be involved in the cerebellar synthesis of leukotrienes and/or could influence the Dicer-mediated microRNA formation and processes of neuroplasticity.     

Nitric oxide production and mononuclear cell nitric oxide synthase activity in malaria-tolerant Papuan adults

Individuals living in regions of intense malaria transmission exhibit natural immunity that allows them to be without fever and other symptoms for most of the time despite frequent parasitization. Although this tolerance of parasitemia appears to be more effective in children than in adults (as evidenced by lower parasitemia fever thresholds with age), adults do exhibit a degree of tolerance but the mechanism(s) underlying this are unclear. Asymptomatic malaria-exposed children have higher levels of nitric oxide (NO) than children with severe disease, and NO has been proposed as a mediator of malarial tolerance. However, the ability of highly malaria-exposed asymptomatic adults to generate high-level basal NO is unknown, as is the relationship between NO and malaria tolerance in adults. The relationship between NO and malaria parasitemia was therefore determined in asymptomatic adults from Papua, Indonesia. Adults with Plasmodium falciparum parasitemia had markedly increased basal systemic NO production relative to aparasitemic Papuan controls, who in turn produced more NO than healthy controls from a region without malaria. Immunoglobulin E levels were universally elevated in malaria-exposed Papuan subjects, suggesting that the prevalence of intestinal parasitosis may be high and that nonmalarial infection may also contribute to high basal NO production. Basal peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) NO synthase activity was elevated in Papuans but poorly correlated with systemic NO production, suggesting that NO production in this setting arises not only from PBMCs but also from other tissue and cellular sources. NO production was associated with and may contribute to malaria tolerance in Papuan adults.