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Student Research Award 1994: Nitric Oxide in the Rat Vestibular System
- Source :
- Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 111:430-438
- Publication Year :
- 1994
- Publisher :
- Wiley, 1994.
-
Abstract
- Nitric oxide is known to function as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. It is also known to be involved in the central nervous system excitatory amino acid neurotransmission cascade. Activation of excitatory amino acid receptors causes an influx of calcium, which activates nitric oxide synthase. The resulting increase in intracellular nitric oxide activates soluble guanylate cyclase, leading to a rise in cyclic guanosine monophosphate. The excitatory amino acids glutamate and aspartate are found in the vestibular system and have been postulated to function as vestibular system neurotransmitters. Although nitric oxide has been investigated as a neurotransmitter in other tissues, no published studies have examined the role of nitric oxide in the vestibular system. Neuronal NADPH-diaphorase has been characterized as a nitric oxide synthase. This enzyme catalyzes the conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline, producing nitric oxide during the reaction. We used a histochemical stain characterized by Hope et al. (Proc Natl Acad Sci 1991;88:2811) as specific for neuronal nitric oxide synthase to localize the enzyme in the rat vestibular system. An immunocytochemical stain was used to examine rat inner ear tissue for the presence of the enzyme's end product, L-citrulline, thereby demonstrating nitric oxide synthase activity. Staining of vestibular ganglion sections showed nitric oxide synthase presence and activity in ganglion cells and nerve fibers. These results indicate the presence of active nitric oxide synthase in these tissues and suggest modulation of vestibular neurotransmission by nitric oxide.
- Subjects :
- 0301 basic medicine
030102 biochemistry & molecular biology
biology
business.industry
Glutamate receptor
chemistry.chemical_element
Scarpa's ganglion
Neurotransmission
Calcium
Cell biology
Nitric oxide
Nitric oxide synthase
03 medical and health sciences
chemistry.chemical_compound
030104 developmental biology
Otorhinolaryngology
chemistry
biology.protein
Medicine
Surgery
business
Neurotransmitter
Cyclic guanosine monophosphate
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 10976817 and 01945998
- Volume :
- 111
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi...........9d4103a066e8223f9154b68de9c4d4f0