Antiepileptic effects of inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase examined in pentylenetetrazol-induced seizures in rats

The effects of intraperitoneal and methyl ester, specific inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, were examined on the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures in rats. The incidence and latency for the onset of myoclonic jerks, clonic seizures, and tonic generalized extension were observed as specific parameters among PTZ-induced seizures. Both drugs preferentially suppressed the tonic generalized extension and prolonged the latency for the onset of each parameter, suggesting NO has a significant effect on the PTZ-induced seizure.     

The role of nitric oxide in the pathophysiology of thromboembolic stroke in the rat

Although nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to play an important role in the pathophysiology of cerebral ischemia, its contribution to the pathogenesis of experimentally induced thromboembolic stroke is unknown. In this study, we pharmacologically manipulated NO levels in the acute post-thrombotic stage and determined the effects on behavior and histopathology. The following drugs were used: nitro-l-arginine-methyl ester (l-NAME), a non-specific endothelial and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (eNOS and nNOS) inhibitor, 3-bromo-7-nitroindazole (7-NI), a specific inhibitor for nNOS, the NO precursor, exogenous l-arginine and the NO-donor, 3-morpholino-sydnonimine (SIN-1). Male Wistar rats (n=76) were randomly assigned to receive vehicle or drug immediately after common carotid artery thrombosis (CCAT). Regional measurements of cortical NOS activity using the [³H]l-arginine to [³H]l-citrulline conversion assay were decreased 1 h after treatment with l-NAME and 7-NI by 50 and 65%, respectively; hippocampal NOS activity was reduced with l-NAME by 35% and with 7-NI by 65%. l-NAME significantly worsened forelimb placing as compared to other groups. 7-NI accelerated sensorimotor recovery. Water maze retention deficits were noted 48 h after CCAT and these were exacerbated by l-NAME treatment. Histopathological protection was conferred in the hippocampus by 7-NI and SIN-1; conversely, l-NAME increased neuronal injury in the contralateral cortex. l-arginine had no effect on these outcomes. In conclusion, both structural and functional consequences of CCAT can be aggravated by limiting endothelial NO production in the acutely post-thrombotic brain. In contrast, inhibition of nNOS and infusion of an NO donor has a beneficial effect on pathology.     

重症肌无力患者IgG对大鼠脑内NOS不同时间表达的影响

目的观察重症肌无力(myasthenia gravis,MG)患者IgG(AchRab)对大鼠脑内一氧化氮合酶(NOS)表达的影响,探讨NOS在MG中造成中枢神经系统损害的机制.方法将AchRab IgG或健康人的IgG注入大鼠侧脑室,1次/d,连续4次.免疫组化方法观察不同时间点大鼠脑皮质、海马及杏仁核神经元型一氧化氮合酶(nNOS)和诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)的表达变化.结果侧脑室注射后1周实验组大鼠皮质、海马神经元nNOS表达量明显减少,后2周实验组皮质、海马神经元nNOS表达下降更为明显,同时杏仁核神经元nNOS表达量也减少;实验组及对照组脑内细胞均未见iNOS表达.结论AchRab侧脑室内注射可引起大鼠皮质、海马及杏仁核神经元nNOS表达量减少,且2周内这种减少效应随时间延长而增强,但未能诱导脑内细胞iNOS表达,提示AchRab尚可通过抑制大鼠中枢神经系统nNOS表达,降低脑内正常的一氧化氮浓度,减弱一氧化氮对脑组织的保护作用,增加神经元的易损性.     

Sleep and nitric: oxide: effects of 7-nitro indazole, inhibitor of brain nitric oxide synthase

We examined the effect of 7-nitro indazole (7-NI, 2.5–50 mg/kg, i.p.), an inhibitor of central nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, on general behaviour and sleep. The results show that 7-NI induces ptosis, a loss of the righting reflex and decrease of the EEG amplitudes. Furthermore, a duration of slow wave sleep (SWS) and REM sleep decreased, while the latencies of SWS and REM sleep increased. The effects of 7-NI on general behaviour and sleep were partially antagonized by intraventricular administration of the NO precursor,l-arginine (600 μg). These findings indicate that 7-NI induces a state of prominent central depression associated with motor deficit and decrease in sleep stages and wakefulness. It further suggests that NO exerts a significant excitatory effect on the neuronal structure involved in the regulation of locomotion and vigilance.     

一氧化氮和一氧化氮合酶在鼠脑内形成吗啡依赖的作用研究

目的：研究一氧化氮（NO）和一氧化氮合酶（NOS）在吗啡依赖形成中的作用。方法;对吗啡依赖和戒断大鼠脑内NO含量和NOS活力进行测定。结果：未发现吗啡依赖和戒断大鼠脑内NO含量和NOS活力有改变。结论：对NO／NOS与吗啡依赖的关系还有待进一步研究。     

癫癎患者血清一氧化氮和一氧化氮合酶活性水平的研究

目的　探讨一氧化氮 (NK)和一氧化氮合酶 (NOS)在癫患者中血清活性水平及意义。方法　采用化学比色法对 10 0例癫患者血清中NO和NOS活性水平进行检测。结果　癫患者间歇期血清中NO和NOS活性水平显著高于对照组 (P <0 0 1)。结论　NO和NOS在癫病理过程中起重要作用。     

Upregulation of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and mRNA, and selective sparing of nitric oxide synthase-containing neurons after local cerebral ischemia in rat

Nitric oxide synthase-containing neurons are presumed to be resistant to neurodegeneration and neurotoxicity, however this resistance has not been demonstrated after focal cerebral ischemia. We therefore measured the temporal profile of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS-I) mRNA and immunoreactivity and NADPH-diaphorase reactivity over a one week period after permanent middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in 48 male Wistar rats and compared these data to ischemic cell damage as evaluated on hematoxylin and eosin (H & E) stained sections by light microscopy. NOS-I mRNA increased as early as 15 min after MCA occlusion in the ipsilateral striatum and maximal expression of NOS-I was found in the ipsilateral cortex and striatum 1 h after MCA occlusion. The numbers of NOS-I-containing neurons in the ipsilateral cortex and striatum were significantly greater (P < 0.05) than NOS-I-containing neurons in the contralateral hemisphere at 2–48 h after the onset of ischemia. The number of NOS-I-containing neurons peaked at 4 h after MCA occlusion. Neurons exhibited shrinkage or were swollen at 1 to 4 h after MCA occlusion. At 24–48 h after ischemia, neurons in the ischemia lesion appeared to be eosinophilic or ghost like on H & E stained sections. However, some of these neurons retained morphological integrity on the NOS-I immunohistochemical sections. At 168 h after ischemia, all neurons within the lesion appeared necrotic on H & E stained sections; however, scatterred neurons expressed NOS-I and NADPH-diaphorase. The rapid upregulation of NOS-I and mRNA in the ischemic lesion suggests that NOS-I is involved in focal cerebral ischemic injury; the expression of NOS-I by neurons that retain their morphological structure in the area of the infarct suggests that NOS-I-containing neurons are more resistant to the ischemic insult. Our data also indicate a close association of NOS-I immunoreactivity and NADPH-diaphorase reactivity in ischemic brain.     

海人酸致痫动物模型脑内一氧化氮,一氧化氮合酶的变化

目的探讨一氧化氮（ＮＯ）、一氧化氮合酶（ＮＯＳ）在癫痫发生中的作用及ＮＯＳ抑制剂的作用。方法采用海人酸致痫大鼠模型并应用ＮＯＳ抑制剂Ｌ－硝基精氨酸甲酯（Ｌ－ＮＡＭＥ）,分别在致痫后３０分钟、６０分钟取海马组织,匀浆后测定ＮＯ及ＮＯＳ水平。结果致痫３０分钟后海马ＮＯ含量显著升高,至６０分钟恢复正常;ＮＯＳ活性水平增高＞５０％;Ｌ－ＮＡＭＥ明显抑制大鼠的痫性发作,应用ＮＯＳ抑制剂组大鼠海马ＮＯ、ＮＯＳ含量明显下降。结论癫痫发作后脑内ＮＯ、ＮＯＳ活性增强,ＮＯＳ抑制剂通过抑制酶活性使ＮＯ生成降低,并完全抑制痫性发作。ＮＯＳ活性受抑制＞４８％即可产生明显效果。提示ＮＯ可能有内源性致痫作用。     

儿童癫癎患者血清一氧化氮及一氧化氮合酶活性水平的研究

目的　探讨一氧化氮 (NO)及一氧化氮合酶 (NOS)在儿童癫患者中血清活性水平及意义。方法　采用化学比色法对12 4例儿童癫患者血清中NO及NOS活性水平进行检测。结果　儿童癫患者发作期及间歇期血清中NO及NOS活性水平均显著高于对照组 (P <0 0 1) ,发作期血清中NO及NOS活性水平均高于间歇期 (P <0 0 5 )。结论　NO及NOS在儿童癫病理过程中起重要作用     

一氧化氮在蛛网膜下腔出血后脑血管痉挛中的作用

脑血管痉挛(cerebral vasospasm,CVS)是动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血(subarachnoid hemorrhage,SAH)后高致死率、致残率的主要原因之一。SAH后CVS的发病机制尚不明确,目前比较肯定的机制是蛛网膜下腔血液和红细胞崩解产物氧合血红蛋白(OxyHb)是CVS发生的第一推动力,起关键作用。血管     

脑室内注射乙酰胆碱受体抗体IgG对大鼠神经元凋亡及一氧化氮合酶表达的影响

目的研究乙酰胆碱受体抗体(AchRab)对大鼠脑内神经元的损害及一氧化氮合酶(NOS)在损害中所起的作用，探讨重症肌无力(MG)中枢神经系统损害的机制。方法将AchRab IgG或健康人的IgG注入大鼠侧脑室。HE染色、TUNEL法检测细胞凋亡；免疫组化方法观察大鼠皮质、海马及杏仁核神经元型一氧化氮合酶(nNOS)和诱导型一氧化氮合酶(iNOS)表达变化。结果2周后实验组皮质、海马及杏仁核凋亡细胞明显增多，对照组仅见少量凋亡。实验组皮质、海马及杏仁核nNOS神经元数目明显减少。实验组及对照组脑内细胞均来见iNOS表达。结论AchRab脑内注射可诱导神经元凋亡；损伤皮质。海马及杏仁核nNOS神经元；但未能诱导脑内细胞iNOS表达。神经元凋亡损害参与了AchRab对中枢神经损害的机制；nNOS神经元的减少，可能与MG认知功能障碍有密切关系；而神经元的损伤可能与NO的毒性作用无关。     

Role of nitric oxide in sleep regulation: effects of -NAME, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase, on sleep in rats

The effect of N^G-nitro- -arginine methyl ester ( -NAME), a competitive inhibitor of enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS), on spontaneous sleep during the light period, was studied in adult rats implanted for chronic sleep recordings. -NAME was injected by subcutaneous (s.c.) or intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) routes or was infused directly into the dorsal raphe nuclei (DRN). Subcutaneous (1.25–5.0 mg/kg) or i.c.v. (0.25–1.0 mg) administration of -NAME increased waking (W) and reduced slow wave sleep (SWS) and rapid-eye-movement sleep (REMS) during the first 3 h of recording. On the other hand, direct application of -NAME into the DRN (50.0–150.0 μg) induced an increment of W and a reduction of SWS without suppressing REMS. Values of W and SWS were significantly different compared with those of controls during the 6-h recording period. The effects of -NAME observed after s.c. or i.c.v. administration confirm previous studies in rabbits and rats, in which the NOS inhibitor reduced sleep and increased W in a dose-dependent manner. It is possible that REMS suppression after -NAME could be related to a reduction of acetylcholine release in areas critical for REMS promotion. A decrease in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) release after nitric oxide synthesis inhibition could play a role in the reduction of SWS.     

Involvement of nitric oxide in cocaine-induced erections and ejaculations after paradoxical sleep deprivation

OBJECTIVES: As nitric oxide (NO) is involved in penile erectile (PE) function and also influences the sleep-wake cycle, we speculated that NO could play a role in PE and ejaculation of paradonical sleep deprivation (PSD) rats. METHODS: Animals were pretreated with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, ip) and L-arginine (ip and icv) prior to saline or cocaine injection. RESULTS: Cocaine-induced PE in 90% of PSD rats, 60% of which ejaculated. L-NAME reduced the frequency of erection, but had no effect in the proportion of PSD-cocaine-injected rats displaying this response. L-NAME had no effect in saline groups. L-Arginine in PSD-saline rats reduced the proportion of animals displaying PE at the highest dose and reduced the frequency of PE at all doses in both saline and cocaine groups. The icv administration of L-arginine reduced PE only in PSD-cocaine rats. Results indicate that common to both drugs, whether it was NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor or NO precursor, was their capacity to strongly reduce PE frequency in cocaine-treated rats. Moreover, L-arginine (ip) played a relevant inhibitory role in the erection displayed by PSD rats. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the stimulating effects of PSD associated or not with cocaine on erection can be modified by alterations in the NO system.     

Developmental effects of in vivo and in vitro inhibition of nitric oxide synthase in neurons

The diffusible chemical messenger nitric oxide (NO) is involved in neuronal plasticity and it is, therefore, supposed to play a role in brain development. A shortage of NO during the critical period of brain maturation may theoretically have long-lasting consequences on the organization of the adult brain. We have performed in neonatal rats a chronic inhibition of the enzyme responsible for NO production, nitric oxide synthase (NOS), from postnatal day 3 to postnatal day 23, through administration of the competitive antagonist N-nitro-L-arginine methylester (L-NAME). The calcium-dependent catalytic activity resulted almost completely inhibited throughout the period of treatment and it took more than 4 days after its suspension to get a full recovery. The expression of the neuronal isoform of the enzyme (nNOS), revealed by immunoblotting, was unchanged during the treatment and after it. The histochemical reaction for NADPH diaphorase was reduced at the end of the treatment and recovered in concomitance with the recovery of the catalytic NOS activity. No gross structural alterations were detected in brain morphology. The levels of three neurotransmitter-related and one astrocytic marker were unchanged in the cerebellum, hippocampus and cortex of 60-day-old rats which had been neonatally treated. A similar lack of significant effects on neurochemical brain maturation was also noticed in a parallel series of experiments, in which a short pulse of NOS inhibition was performed at a critical prenatal time of brain development, from gestational day 14 to gestational day 19. In vitro, chronic exposure of cerebellar granule cells to L-NAME (500 microM) resulted in slight decrease of surviving neurons after 8 days in culture and in better resistance to the challenge of stressful culture conditions. The present results suggest that the basic plan of brain organization can be achieved despite an almost complete NOS inhibition during the maturation period. In vitro, NOS inhibition may bring to more pronounced consequences on neuronal viability and function.     

A modified citrulline assay of NOS activity in rat brain homogenates does not detect direct effects of halothane on the kinetics of NOS activity

An improved citrulline radioassay of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity was developed to study the direct effects of the volatile anesthetic (VA) halothane on the enzyme kinetics of neuronal NOS derived from different regions of the rat central nervous system (CNS). The V_max of NOS in both soluble cytosolic and membrane bound particulate fractions varied across regions with greatest activity in the cerebellum and least in the spinal cord. In contrast, the K_m was not different across regions or in the cytosolic and particulate fractions. Halothane at 0.5, 1, 2 or 3% delivered concentration had no effect on either kinetic parameter of NOS in any of the regions studied indicating that the VAs have no direct effects on NOS activity.     

Peripheral nitric oxide in carrageenan-induced inflammation

Recent studies have suggested that nitric oxide (NO) peripherally produced by different nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms contributes to edema formation and development of hyperalgesia. The present study was designed to examine the effects of NOS isoforms on NO release in carrageenan-induced inflammation at various time points. A microdialysis probe was implanted subcutaneously into the glabrous skin of hindpaws of Sprague-Dawley rats under pentobarbital anesthesia. After sample collection to obtain the basal level of the total amount of nitrite and nitrate (NO2-/NO3-), modified Ringer solution, a non-selective NOS inhibitor, NG monomethyl-L-arginine acetate (L-NMMA), or an iNOS inhibitor, aminoguanidine hemisulfate (AG) was perfused through the microdialysis probe. 2 mg of carrageenan was injected into the plantar surface of the probe-implanted hindpaw. Carrageenan was also injected in rats that had undergone sciatic nerve sectioning. Carrageenan significantly increased the dialysate concentrations of NO2-/NO3- for more than 8 h. L-NMMA suppressed the carrageenan-induced increase in NO2-/NO3- concentration. Although AG did not suppress the increase in NO2-/NO3- for the first 2 h after carrageenan injection, significant suppression of the increase in NO2-/NO3- was observed from 2.5 h after carrageenan injection. In the rats in which the sciatic nerves had been denervated, the increases in concentrations of NO2-/NO3- were completely suppressed up to 3 h and partially suppressed 4.5-8 h after carrageenan injection. The results of the current study show that carrageenan induces peripheral release of NO, the production of which is mediated by nNOS in the early phase and by both nNOS and iNOS in the late phase of carrageenan-induced inflammation.     

一氧化氮合酶抑制剂对缺血性海马迟发性神经元死亡的保护作用

目的：研究一氧化氮在缺血性海马迟发性神经元死亡中的作用,观察非选择性一氧化氮合酶抑制剂Ｎ＾Ｇ－ｎｉｔｒｏ－Ｌ－ａｒｇｉｎｉｎｅ对缺血性海马ＤＮＤ的影响。方法：实验分为假手术组,生理盐水治疗组,Ｌ－ＮＮＡ治疗组。采用大鼠４血管关闭方法制作了全脑缺血再灌流模型,以假手术组为对照,检测了脑缺血１０ｍｉｎ再灌流７２ｈ海马区ＮＯＳ活性的变化并观察计量了海马ＣＡ１区组织病理改变;     

Changes in the distribution of nitric oxide synthase immunoreactive nerve fibers in the chronically hypoxic rat carotid body

The distribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) immunoreactive nerve fibers in the carotid body was compared between normoxic and chronically hypoxic rats (10% O₂ and 3.0–4.0% CO₂ for 3 months). NOS immunoreactive fibers appeared as thin processes with many varicosities. They were distributed predominantly around small arteries and arterioles, and around clusters of glomus cells. When expressed by the density of varicosities per unit area in the parenchyma, the density of NOS fibers associated with the vasculature and with the glomus cells in the chronically hypoxic carotid bodies was significantly decreased. Because nitric oxide (NO) is an inhibitory neuronal messenger in the normoxic carotid body, the present findings suggest that the sensory mechanisms in the hypoxic carotid body may be involved in `disinhibition' resulting from reduced NO synthesis.