Nitric oxide synthase containing neurons in the carotid body and sinus of the guinea pig

✍ Scribed by Dr. Koichi Tanaka; Tanemichi Chiba

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1994
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 437 KB
• Volume: 29
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1059-910X
• DOI: 10.1002/jemt.1070290205

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

The morphology and function of the carotid sinus and carotid body have been extensively studied, but our knowledge of their transmitter(s) is still incomplete. Nitric oxide (NO) recently has been identified as a novel messenger molecule in a number of neuronal and non‐neuronal tissues. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) has been demonstrated in many neurons of the autonomic nervous system. The present study examines the distribution of NOS in the carotid sinus and body. The carotid sinus and body of newborn guinea pigs were removed for histochemical examination of NOS using the NADPH‐diaphorase method. In the carotid body, many nerve fibers enveloping the glomus cells were positive for NOS. In addition, some glomus cells were positive for NOS. In the carotid sinus, NADPH‐d positive fibers were distributed unevenly in the adventitia and media. These results indicate the possibility that nitric oxide plays a role in both arterial chemoreception and baroreception. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.