Premium
Developmental changes of nitric oxide synthase in the rat superior colliculus
Author(s) -
Tenório F.,
GiraldiGuimarães A.,
MendezOtero R.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
journal of neuroscience research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.72
H-Index - 160
eISSN - 1097-4547
pISSN - 0360-4012
DOI - 10.1002/jnr.490420505
Subject(s) - nitric oxide synthase , superior colliculus , neuropil , inferior colliculus , nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate , diaphorase , nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide , biology , nitric oxide , neuroscience , chemistry , central nervous system , endocrinology , medicine , biochemistry , nad+ kinase , enzyme , oxidase test , nucleus
We used the activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPH‐d) to detect the presence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in the developing rat superior colliculus. Our results showed that NOS is present in cells and nenropil in the developing and adult rat superior colliculus. The first NOS‐positive cells were detected at postnatal day 7 and were weakly stained. During the following days the number of stained cells increased markedly, reaching a peak by postnatal day 15, coinciding with the time of eye opening in the rat. By the end of the third postnatal week, both the number and intensity of stained cells showed an adult‐like pattern. We conclude that NOS expression lags behind the initial period of reorganization of the retinotectal projection. However, NOS activity could be involved in the subsequent synaptic remodeling and plasticity of the retinocollicular projection. © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.