增强型体外反搏对冠心病患者血浆内皮素和一氧化氮的影响

目的:探讨增强型体外反搏对冠心病患者血浆内皮素(ET)和一氧化氮(NO)的影响。方法:把62例确诊冠心病的患者随机分为体外反搏治疗组(29例)和药物治疗组(32例), 反搏组在常规药物治疗的基础上接受增强型体外反搏仪治疗36d(1h/d), 药物组接受常规药物治疗相同天数;分别于治疗前后应用放射免疫法测定患者的血浆ET含量, 应用硝酸盐还原酶法测定患者血浆NO^-₂/NO^-₃含量, 以间接反映NO的浓度;并测定30例健康人的ET和NO^-₂/NO^-₃值作为对照。结果:治疗前反搏组和药物组的ET水平(116.4±44.9)ng/L, (111.9±44.4)ng/L明显高于正常人(65.8±15.6)ng/L(P＜0.01)。治疗后反搏组ET水平(78.9±30.2)ng/L明显低于药物组(148.0±39.5)ng/L(P＜0.01)。NO^-₂/NO^-₃水平, 治疗前反搏组(64.4±14.8)μmol/L和药物组(67.0±24.0)μmol/L, 稍低于正常人(70.1±13.9)μmol/L, 但P＞0.05;治疗后反搏组(89.6±30.3)μmol/L高于正常人(P＜0.01), 药物组NO^-₂/NO^-₃(83.4±23.0)μmol/L与正常人比较无明显差异(P＞0.05)。体现血管收缩和舒张平衡关系的ET/(NO^-₂/NO^-₃)比值, 治疗前反搏组(1.9±0.8)和对照组(1.8±0.9)均高于正常人(1.0±0.3)(P＜0.01), 治疗后反搏组该值(0.9±0.4)下降(P＜0.01), 并接近正常人水平(P＞0.05), 而药物组(1.8±0.7)与治疗前比较无明显差异(P＞0.05)。结论:增强型体外反搏可改善冠心病患者的内皮功能。     

氨基胍等对严重烧伤大鼠一氧化氮表达及烧伤休克的影响

目的:研究一氧化氮合酶(NOS)抑制剂与严重烧伤大鼠体内NO产量、NOS表达以及平均动脉压(MAP)变化的关系。方法:复制大鼠重症烧伤模型,检测应用非选择性NOS抑制剂L-NAME和选择性诱生型NOS(iNOS)抑制剂氨基胍(AG)后大鼠血液中NO代谢产物(NO₂^-／NO₃^-)以及肺和十二指肠组织中神经型NOS(nNOS)mRNA的表达水平,同时测定各组大鼠的MAP。结果:烧伤后大鼠血液中NO₂^-／NO₃^-含量显著增高,L-NAME和AG都能抑制NO₂^-／NO₃^-的升高,P<0.01;烧伤后nNOS的mRNA表达在肺和十二指肠中均有不同程度升高,AG和L-NAME使nNOS表达增加,L-NAME作用更为显著,P<0.01;烧伤后大鼠MAP略有上升,然后进行性下降,L-NAME组大鼠MAP显著升高,但于3h后急剧下降,AG组大鼠MAP下降速度明显低于对照组。结论:结构型NOS(cNOS)与iNOS在烧伤休克病理生理过程中的作用明显不同,iNOS活性过度增高与烧伤休克发病关系密切。     

吸烟大鼠一氧化氮合酶和一氧化氮的变化

目的:观察吸烟对大鼠肺组织iNOS、eNOSmRNA和蛋白表达以及支气管肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中NO的影响, 探讨不同类型的NOS在吸烟所致慢性气道炎症中的作用。方法:选用Wistar大鼠80只随机分为对照组, 被动吸烟组, iNOS抑制剂L-NIL干预组及NOS抑制剂L-NAME干预组。用免疫组化法检测iNOS及eNOS的蛋白表达, 用RT-PCR检测iNOS及eNOSmRNA的表达, 用Griess法测定BALF中的NO^-₂/NO^-₃含量。结果:吸烟大鼠肺组织中iNOSmRNA及其蛋白表达增加, eNOSmRNA及蛋白表达下降, BALF中细胞总数及NO^-₂/NO^-₃显著增加(P＜0.05)。在体实验发现, L-NIL使BALF中细胞总数及NO^-₂/NO^-₃下降(P＜0.05);L-NAME对BALF中细胞总数及NO^-₂/NO^-₃无显著影响(P＞0.05)。结论:吸烟大鼠肺组织iNOSmRNA和蛋白表达增加, eNOSmRNA和蛋白表达减少。活化的iNOS产生大量NO促进炎症发展。     

大鼠严重烧伤后体内一氧化氮水平变化与预后的关系

目的:研究一氧化氮(NO)及一氧化氮合酶(NOS)在严重烧伤早期大鼠体内的变化规律及其与预后的可能联系。方法:检测严重烧伤前后大鼠血液中NO代谢产物NO^-₂/NO^-₃及脑、肺脏和十二指肠组织中神经型(nNOS)和诱生型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)蛋白的水平,同时统计各组大鼠的存活率。结果:烧伤后大鼠血液中NO^-₂/NO^-₃水平显著增高,非选择性NOS抑制剂L-NAME和选择性iNOS抑制剂氨基胍(AG)对其均有抑制作用,以L-NAME为甚;nNOS蛋白在伤后部分升高,L-NAME和AG均轻度上调nNOS水平;iNOS在正常组织中不表达,烧伤后表达异常增高,L-NAME和AG对此均无影响;与对照组比较,AG组大鼠存活时间延长,L-NAME组存活时间缩短。结论:严重烧伤后的血管扩张、血压降低和血管反应性低下与iNOS蛋白水平过度增高及其释放的大量NO关系密切。     

参麦注射液对缺血再灌注兔的保护作用

目的:研究参麦注射液对家兔低血容量性休克致缺血再灌注的保护作用及其机制。方法:实验动物16只随机分两组,制备缺血再灌注(ischemia reperfusion, I-R)模型。参麦(SM)组8只,缺血30 min,再灌注时从静脉快速输入自体血和20 mL生理盐水(参麦注射液加入其中,1.5 mL/kg)(I-R+SM);对照组8只,缺血30 min,静脉输入自体血和等量生理盐水(I-R+NS)。各组动物除回输血液外,外加100 mL液体补充丢失的水分。观察缺血前(BI),I-R后30 min,1 h,2 h血中超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活力,NO₂^-/NO₃^-含量,血液pH值和尿量变化。结果:SM组血浆NO₂^-/NO₃^-含量高于对照组,I-R 2 h,对照组(4.08±1.95) μmol/L,SM组(7.56±1.21) μmol/L(P＜0.01);SOD活力也高于对照组:SM组(70.05±9.87) Nu/mL;对照组(43.17 ±10.93) Nu/mL(P＜0.01)。随着SOD活力,NO₂^-/NO₃^-水平升高,酸中毒有所纠正,pH值逐渐上升,循环血流状态改善,尿量增加。 结论:参麦注射液对低血容量性休克致缺血再灌注兔有一定保护作用,其机制与增加SOD活力,促进NO产生有关。     

阿司匹林对炎症条件下人血管内皮细胞一氧化氮的产生及诱导型一氧化氮合酶mRNA表达的影响

目的:探讨炎症时阿司匹林(AS)对内皮细胞一氧化氮(NO)的产生及诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)基因表达的抑制作用。方法:Griess法测上清液NO^-₂/NO^-₃水平、黄递酶法测NOS活性、常规生化法测乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、丙二醛(MDA)浓度,染料排除法测细胞活力,RT-PCR技术分析iNOSmRNA水平。结果:白介素(IL)-1β、肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)-α、γ-干扰素(INF)联用脂多糖(LPS)诱导后上清液中NO^-₂/NO^-₃由(4.27±0.75)μmol/L增加到(9.35±1.25)μmol/L,对内皮细胞造成明显的损伤。但3mmol/LAS组NO生成及NOS活性明显降低,LDH释放率及MDA浓度下降,细胞存活率上升,与NO诱导组相比差异显著。并随AS剂量的增加对NO的抑制及对细胞的保护作用更加明显,但AS对生理水平的NO没有抑制作用。同时发现10mmol/L浓度以下AS对iNOSmRNA表达水平没有影响;但10-20mmol/L的AS则可在转录水平上抑制iNOSmRNA的表达。并观察到水杨酸钠及消炎痛不具有抑制NO产生的作用。结论:AS具有明显抑制IL-1β、TNF-α、γ-INF及LPS诱导NO生成的作用,从而保护血管内皮细胞避免炎症时高浓度NO的损伤。     

NO在外源性高浓度Ca2+损伤心肌线粒体中的作用

目的：探讨一氧化氮在外源性高浓度Ca²⁺损伤心肌线粒体中的作用。方法：正常心肌线粒体分为单纯L-精氨酸（L-Arg）组、Ca²⁺损伤组和左旋硝基精氨酸甲酯（L-NAME）保护组,分别于含有20 μmol/L EDTA、100 μmol/L CaCl₂以及1 μmol/L L-NAME+100 μmol/L CaCl₂的反应介质中孵育,然后测定线粒体活力、膜电位以及NO含量。结果：Ca²⁺损伤组线粒体活力、膜电位明显下降,而NO^-₂/NO^-₃含量升高,且线粒体活力、膜电位与NO₂^-/NO₃^-含量呈显著负相关（r=-0.5297,P<0.01;r=-0.6041,P<0.01）;L-NAME保护组线粒体活力与膜电位均明显高于Ca²⁺损伤组,但仍低于L-Arg组,而NO₂^-/NO₃^-含量低于Ca²⁺损伤组,且与L-Arg组无明显差异。结论：外源性Ca²⁺可激活线粒体一氧化氮合酶,使NO生成增多,后者在线粒体活力与膜电位降低中起重要作用。     

川芎嗪在豚鼠离体气管螺旋条中的作用

目的：研究川芎嗪在豚鼠离体气管螺旋条中的作用。方法：在浴槽内加入川芎嗪从10^-7 mol/L至10^-2 mol/L，观察气管螺旋条张力的变化，并检测浴槽中NO₂^-/NO₃^-含量，气管螺旋条组织cAMP、cGMP含量的变化。结果：加入川芎嗪气管螺旋条张力下降，与川芎嗪浓度呈剂量依赖性，未去皮组舒张度显著大于去皮组（P<0.01）。浴槽内NO₂^-/NO₃^-含量增加，未去皮组(2.3±0.37) mol/L升至(5.4±0.42) mol/L（P<0.05），去皮组(1.12±0.12) mol/L升至(2.29±012) mol/L（P<0 05）。气管螺旋条组织cAMP 含量增加，未去皮组(17.6±1.19) nmol/g protein升至(36.48±7.20) nmol/g protein（P<0.05） , 去皮组(8.20±2.30) nmol/g protein 升至(18.34±2.30) nmol/g protein（P<0.05），cGMP 含量增加，未去皮组(0.33±0.11) nmol/g protein 升至(0.67±0.27) nmol/g protein（P<0.05），去皮组(0.16±0.03) nmol/g protein 升至(0.33±0.16) nmol/g protein（P<0.05）。结论：川芎嗪有舒张气管螺旋条的作用。     

心通胶囊对心肌缺血大鼠心室肌亚硝酸盐和cGMP含量的影响

目的:探讨心通胶囊对实验性大鼠心肌缺血的预防效果及其与一氧化氮形成的相关机制。方法:应用垂体后叶素致大鼠急性心肌缺血模型,以心电图上ST段的抬高作为心肌缺血的指标。测定大鼠心肌缺血心室肌组织一氧化氮(NO)代谢产物(NO₂^-/NO₃^-)和cGMP含量。结果:急性心肌缺血组大鼠的心室肌组织NO₂^-/NO₃^-和cGMP含量分别为(486±59)nmol/gprotein和(0.38±0.08)nmol/gprotein,明显低于正常对照组大鼠的NO₂^-/NO₃^-和cGMP含量,有显著差异(P＜0.01);急性心肌缺血前使用心通胶囊组的心室肌组织NO₂^-/NO₃^-和cGMP含量为(845±105)nmol/gprotein和(0.51±0.10)nmol/gprotein明显高于缺血组(P＜0.01)。与正常组比较,缺血组的心电图ST段抬高明显抬高(P＜0.05);心肌缺血前使用心通胶囊,可使心肌缺血得以改善。结论:心通胶囊提高急性心肌缺血大鼠心室肌组织的NO含量,进而使cGMP含量升高,达到改善心肌缺血的作用。     

大鼠肺纤维化形成过程中肺内一氧化氮代谢的动态变化

目的:观察大鼠肺纤维化过程中肺内一氧化氮代谢的动态变化及其与肺纤维化形成的关系。方法:气管内一次性滴注平阳霉素(5mL/kg),观察注后7、14、21、30d和70d组大鼠肺组织羟脯氨酸含量,出、入肺血NO₂^-/NO₃^-含量以及14d组肺泡巨噬细胞培养上清液中NO₂^-/NO₃^-含量和肺间质诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)免疫组化阳性细胞数量的变化。结果:7d组大鼠肺组织羟脯氨酸含量与对照组比无明显差异,14d组高于对照组(P＜0.05),21d组、30d组和70d组更为明显(均P＜0.01)。7d组、14d组出肺血NO₂^-/NO₃^-含量明显高于对照组(均P＜0.01),入肺血NO₂^-/NO₃^-含量明显低于对照组(均P＜0.01),21d组出肺血NO₂^-/NO₃^-含量的变化无明显差异(P＞0.05),入肺血仍较低(P＜0.01),30d组和70d组出、入肺血NO₂^-/NO₃^-含量与对照组无明显差异(P＞0.05)。14d组大鼠肺泡巨噬细胞培养上清液中NO₂^-/NO₃^-含量明显高于对照组(P＜0.01)。14d组大鼠肺间质iNOS免疫组化阳性细胞增多。结论:大鼠肺纤维化形成过程中,先有肺内NO生成增多,后出现肺纤维化;在肺纤维化形成后,肺内NO趋向恢复。肺内NO增多与肺泡巨噬细胞释放NO能力增加、肺内iNOS的增多有关。肺内NO的大量生成可能是促使肺纤维化形成的因素之一。     

重组人诱导型一氧化氮合酶在V79细胞中的表达及四氢叶酸对其活性的影响

目的:探讨重组人诱导型一氧化氮合酶 (iNOS)基因在V₇₉成纤维细胞中转染的可行性及四氢叶酸(H₄B)对转染后产生NO的影响。方法:将人iNOS基因通过真核表达载体转入V₇₉细胞中,经G₄₁₈筛选,RT-PCR、免疫荧光法进行鉴定。采用Griess法测定加入H₄B前后NO^-₂ 的生成量。结果:iNOS基因转染组V₇₉细胞中有iNOSmR NA的表达,细胞胞质中可见分泌的iNOS蛋白。未加H₄B时,iNOS转染组NO^-₂ 含量明显高于正常细胞组和空质粒转染组 (P <0.01,n=6),正常细胞组和空质粒转染组之间NO^-₂ 含量无明显差异 (P >0.05,n=6);加入H₄B后,iNOS转染组中NO^-₂ 含量较未加组明显增加,两者相比具有显著差异 (P <0.01,n=6),而正常细胞组和空质粒转染组与未加H₄B组相比无明显变化 (P >0.05,n=6)。结论:通过外界加入H₄B能显著增加成纤维细胞转染产生的iNOS的活性,成纤维细胞可以作为iNOS基因转染的靶细胞.     

Corticosterone and phenytoin reduce neuronal nitric oxide synthase messenger RNA expression in rat hippocampus.

The production and release of the corticosteroids, namely the glucocorticoids and the mineralocorticoids, are regulated by various stimuli, including stress. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that chronic exposure to stress or to stress levels of glucocorticoids produces atrophy of the apical dendrites of CA3 pyramidal neurons in the hippocampus. This stress-induced dendritic remodeling is blocked by the anti-epileptic drug phenytoin, which suppresses glutamate release, and also by N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor antagonists. These results suggest an interaction between glucocorticoids and excitatory amino acids in the development of stress-induced atrophy of CA3 pyramidal neurons. Since nitric oxide is proposed to play an important role in mediating both the physiological and pathophysiological actions of excitatory amino acids, we examined the regulation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase messenger RNA expression by corticosterone and phenytoin in the rat hippocampus. The expression of neuronal nitric oxide synthase messenger RNA in hippocampal pyramidal neurons and granule neurons of the dentate gyrus was unaffected by 21-day administration of corticosterone (40 mg/kg), phenytoin (40 mg/kg) or the combination of corticosterone and phenytoin. However, in hippocampal interneurons, corticosterone/ phenytoin co-administration led to a significant reduction in neuronal nitric oxide synthase messenger RNA levels when compared with vehicle controls. These results suggest that, during exposure to stress levels of corticosterone, phenytoin inhibits glucocorticoid-induced atrophy of CA3 pyramidal neurons by reducing neuronal nitric oxide synthase expression in hippocampal interneurons. Moreover, these results may provide another example of synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus mediated by nitric oxide synthase.     

诱导型一氧化氮合酶对肺纤维化形成的促进作用

目的:研究纤维化肺内诱导型一氧化氮合酶上调及其与肺纤维化形成的关系。方法:气管内滴注平阳霉素(BLMA₅5mL/kg),观察注后7、14、30d肺组织诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)阳性细胞数和Ⅰ、Ⅲ型胶原纤维的变化;用氨基胍(AG)阻断iNOS合成NO后,观察出肺血中NO₂^-/NO₃^-和肺组织中羟脯氨酸含量以及肺组织形态结构的变化。结果:①注BLMA₅7d、14d和30d组大鼠肺间质iNOS阳性细胞数明显多于对照组(P<0.01),并且,BLMA₅7d组和BLMA₅14d组还多于BLMA₅30d组(P<0.01)。BLMA₅14d和30d组大鼠肺间质胶原纤维的出现多于对照组,BLMA₅14d组以Ⅲ型胶原纤维增多为主,BLMA₅30d组以Ⅰ型胶原纤维增多为主。②AG缓解出肺血NO₂^-/NO₃^-和肺组织中羟脯氨酸含量的升高;AG还阻止肺间质或纤维细胞和巨噬细胞的增多。结论:在肺纤维化形成过程中,肺内iNOS上调,大量生成NO,有促肺纤维化的作用。     

Comparative roles of ATP-sensitive K channels and Ca-activated BK channels in posthypoxic hyperexcitability and rapid hypoxic preconditioning in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons in vitro

The aim of this study was to investigate the comparative effects of glibenclamide (GC), a selective blocker of K⁺_ATP channels, and iberiotoxin (IbTX), a selective blocker of BK⁺_Ca channels, on the repeated brief hypoxia-induced posthypoxic hyperexcitability and rapid hypoxic preconditioning in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons in vitro. The method of field potentials measurement in CA1 region of the rat hippocampal slices was used. In contrast to GC (10 μM), IbTX (10 nM) significantly abolished both posthypoxic hyperexcitability and rapid hypoxic preconditioning induced by brief hypoxic episodes. These effects of IbTX did not depend on its ability to reduce the hypoxia-induced decrease of population spike (PS) amplitude during hypoxic episodes since GC (10 μM), comparatively with IbTX (10 nM), significantly reduced the depressive effect of hypoxia on the PS amplitude during hypoxic episodes but did not abolish both posthypoxic hyperexcitability and rapid hypoxic preconditioning in CA1 pyramidal neurons. Our results indicated that BK⁺_Ca channels, in comparison with K⁺_ATP channels, play a more important role in such repeated brief hypoxia-induced forms of neuroplasticity in hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons as posthypoxic hyperexcitability and rapid hypoxic preconditioning.     

Dendritic-targeting interneuron controls spike timing of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neuron via activation of Ih

Accurate spike timing of hippocampal CA1 pyramidal neurons relative to the on-going theta-frequency network oscillations is important in hippocampal spatial information and memory processing. Accumulating evidence suggests that inhibitory interneurons are important in regulating the activity of pyramidal neurons in the local hippocampal circuit. Interneurons synapse mostly onto the dendrites of CA1 pyramidal neurons where they are believed to take part in dendritic computation. However, it remains unclear how the diverse types of interneurons targeting different dendritic domains of pyramidal neurons differentially contribute to the precise control of spike timing during network oscillation. Here, using a full-morphology multi-compartment model of CA1 pyramidal neuron, we find that phasic inhibitory inputs during theta oscillation can precisely control spike timing of CA1 pyramidal neurons by not only delaying but also advancing the spike times. In addition, we report that the biophysical mechanism underlying the spike time advancement caused by inhibitory input is due to the hyperpolarization-activated mixed cation current (I_h) in pyramidal neuron dendrites. Thus, a wide variety of interneuron types targeting different dendritic locations of pyramidal neuron activate dendritic I_h to influence spike timing of pyramidal neuron during theta oscillation. This suggests an important functional role of dendritic-targeting interneurons in hippocampal spike timing-based information processing.     

Gabapentin promotes inhibition by enhancing hyperpolarization-activated cation currents and spontaneous firing in hippocampal CA1 interneurons

The H-current (I_H) regulates membrane electrical activity in many excitable cells. The antiepileptic drug gabapentin (GBP) has been shown to increase I_H in hippocampal area CA1 pyramidal neurons, and this has been proposed as an anticonvulsant mechanism of action. I_H also regulates excitability in some types of hippocampal interneuron that provide synaptic inhibition to CA1 pyramidal neurons, suggesting that global pharmacological I_H enhancement could have more complex effects on the local synaptic network. However, whether I_H in CA1 interneurons is modulated by GBP has not been examined. In this study, we tested the effects of GBP on I_H on hippocampal area CA1 stratum oriens non-pyramidal neurons, and on spontaneous inhibitory postsynaptic currents (sIPSCs) in CA1 pyramidal neurons in immature rat brain slices. GBP (100 μM) increased I_H in approximately 67% of interneurons that exhibited I_H, with no apparent effect on cell types that did not exhibit I_H. GBP also increased the frequency of spontaneous (but not miniature) inhibitory postsynaptic currents in pyramidal neurons without altering amplitudes or rise and decay times. These data indicate that I_H in a subset of CA1 interneuron types can be increased by GBP, similarly to its effect on I_H in pyramidal neurons, and further, that indirectly increased spontaneous inhibition of pyramidal neurons could contribute to its anticonvulsant effects.     

肝缺血预处理保护作用与一氧化氮/内皮素-1系统有关

目的:研究一氧化氮/内皮素-1(NO/ET-1)失衡与肝缺血再灌注(I/R)损伤的关系以及肝缺血预处理(IPC)对NO/ET-1系统的调节作用。方法:采用鼠肝I/R模型,比较I/R组和IPC+I/R组NO/ET-1系统的变化情况及其与肝I/R损伤的关系。用RT-PCR检测再灌注2h内肝组织中是否有诱生性一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)mRNA表达。结果:再灌注急性期血浆NO代谢产物(NO₂^-/NO₃^-)降低、ET-1升高致NO/ET-1比值降低,血浆ALT、AST、LDH、TNF-α含量及肝组织丙二醛(MDA)含量增高,而肝组织ATP含量降低,肝损伤加重;肝IPC的保护作用与其升高NO₂^-/NO₃^-、降低ET-1,升高NO/ET-1比值有关;在上述肝组织中未测出有iNOSmRNA表达。结论:肝I/R损伤与NO/ET-1失衡有关,IPC对I/R急性期肝的保护作用可能是通过对NO/ET-1系统的调节作用而介导的,此时NO来源于原生性一氧化氮合酶(cNOS)而非iNOS。     

Balysum-2 inhibitis evoked activity of the pyramidal neurons in hippocampus

The effects of Balysum-2 on the responsiveness of field CA1 hippocampal pyramidal neurons was studied in experiments with cultured cerebral slices. Addition to the medium of 10⁻⁴M Balysum-2 or its active ingredient (comenic acid) led to a reversible decrease in the peak amplitude of focal response (pop-spike) recorded in the pyramidal layer CA1 during stimulation of the radial layer. Perfusion of hippocampal slices with a solution containing the noncompetitive GABA_A-antagonist picrotoxin prevented the effects of Balysum-2 and comenic acid. Inhibition of hippocampal pyramids by Balysum-2 and comenic acid is probably caused by an incease in the inhibitory effect mediated by GABA_A-receptors. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii I Meditsiny, Vol. 125, No. 1, pp. 63–65, January, 1998     

Nitric oxide-containing pyramidal neurons of the subiculum innervate the CA1 area

Neurons and axon terminals containing neuron-specific nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) were examined in the rat subiculum and CA1 area of Ammon's horn. In the subiculum, a large subpopulation of the pyramidal neurons and non-pyramidal cells are immunoreactive for nNOS, whereas in the neighbouring CA1 area of Ammon's horn only non-pyramidal neurons are labelled with the antibody against nNOS. In the pyramidal layer of the subiculum, nNOS-positive axon terminals form both asymmetric and symmetric synapses. In the adjacent CA1 area the nNOS-positive terminals that form symmetric synapses are found in all layers, whereas those terminals that form asymmetric synapses are only in strata radiatum and oriens, but not in stratum lacunosum-moleculare. In both the subiculum and CA1 area, labelled terminals make symmetric synapses only on dendritic shafts, whereas asymmetric synapses are exclusively on dendritic spines. Previous observations demonstrated that all nNOS-positive non-pyramidal cells are GABAergic local circuit neurons, which form exclusively symmetric synapses. We suggest that nNOS-immunoreactive pyramidal cells of the subiculum may innervate neighbouring subicular pyramidal cells and, to a smaller extent, pyramidal cells of the adjacent CA1 area, forming a backward projection between the subicular and hippocampal principal neurons. Electronic Publication