不同月龄自发性高血压大鼠杏仁中央核nNOS免疫阳性神经元的变化

Changes of neuronal nitric oxide synthase-immunopositive neurons in the central amygdaloid nucleus of spontaneously hypertensive rats]

OBJECTIVE: To observe the changes of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-immunopositive neurons in the central amygdaloid nucleus of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). METHODS: Thirty SHRs and 30 Wistar-Koyto rats (WKYs) were sacrificed at the ages of 90, 180, and 360 days respectively to observe the changes of nNOS-immunopositive neurons with ABC immunocytochemical assay. RESULTS: No significant changes were observed in the blood pressure of WKY rats at the specified time points, when SHRs maintained significantly higher blood pressures from 20.8+/-1.1 and 26.3+/-1.0 kPa (P<0.05), gradually increasing during the development of hypertension. The nNOS-immunopositive neurons in the central amygdaloid nucleus were of moderate sizes with long intersected nerve fibers. No significant changes were found in WKY rats. The number of the positive neurons decreased with age in SHRs, especially obvious at 360 days (P<0.05), which was significantly different from that in the WKYs (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The reduction of nNOS-immunopositive neurons in the central amygdaloid nucleus of SHRs might accelerate the development of hypertension by modulating the cardiovascular function and sensory transmission.