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Immunohistochemistry of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and protein nitration in the striatum of the aged rat
Author(s) -
del Moral María Luisa,
Esteban Francisco José,
Hernández Raquel,
Blanco Santos,
Molina Francisco Javier,
MartínezLara Esther,
Siles Eva,
Viedma Gloria,
Ruiz Alharilla,
Pedrosa Juan Angel,
Peinado María Angeles
Publication year - 2004
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.20081
Subject(s) - nitric oxide synthase , striatum , nitrotyrosine , immunohistochemistry , nitric oxide , white matter , senescence , biology , staining , chemistry , medicine , endocrinology , microbiology and biotechnology , dopamine , immunology , magnetic resonance imaging , genetics , radiology
To ascertain the possible implications of the nitric oxide (NO • ) producing system in striatal senescence, and by using immunohistochemistry and image‐processing approaches, we describe the presence of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS), the NADPH‐diaphorase (NADPH‐d) histochemical marker, and nitrotyrosine‐derived complexes (N‐Tyr) in the striatum of adult and aged rats. The results showed neuronal NOS immunoreactive (nNOS‐IR) aspiny medium‐sized neurons and nervous fibres in both age groups, with no variation in the percentage of immunoreactive area but a significant decrease in the intensity and in the number of somata with age, which were not related to the observed increase with age of the striatal bundles of the white matter. In addition, NADPH‐d activity was detected in neurons with morphology similar to that of the nNOS‐IR cells; a decrease in the percentage of area per field and in the number of cells, but an increase in the intensity of staining for the NADPH‐d histochemical marker, were detected with age. The number of neuronal NADPH‐d somata was higher than for the nNOS‐IR ones in both age groups. Moreover, N‐Tyr‐IR complexes were observed in cells (neurons and glia) and fibres, with a significant increase in the percentage of the area of immunoreaction, related to the increase of white matter, but a decrease in intensity for the aged group. On the other hand, we did not detect the inducible isoform (iNOS) either in adult or in aged rats. Taken together, these results support the contention that NADPH‐d staining is not such an unambiguous marker for nNOS, and that increased protein nitration may participate in striatal aging. Microsc. Res. Tech. 64:304–311, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.