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Cholinergic‐nitrergic transmitter mechanisms in the cerebral circulation
Author(s) -
Lee Tony J.F.,
Liu Jie,
Evans M. Steven
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
microscopy research and technique
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.536
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1097-0029
pISSN - 1059-910X
DOI - 10.1002/jemt.1076
Subject(s) - cholinergic , acetylcholine , vasodilation , nitric oxide , cerebral circulation , neuroscience , chemistry , cholinergic fibers , medicine , cholinergic neuron , endocrinology , biology
Cerebral blood vessels from several species are innervated by vasodilator nerves. Acetylcholine (ACh) released from parasympathetic cholinergic nerves was first suggested to be the transmitter for vasodilation. Results from pharmacological studies in isolated cerebral arterial ring preparations, however, have demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) but not ACh mediates the major component of neurogenic vasodilation. More recently, ACh and NO have been shown to co‐release from the same cholinergic‐nitrergic nerves, and that ACh acts as a presynaptic transmitter in modulating NO release. In this communication, evidence for the neuronal origin of NO and possible role of ACh in modulating NO release in large cerebral arteries at the base of the brain will be discussed. Microsc. Res. Tech. 53:119–128, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.