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Increase in nitric oxide synthase and NADPH‐diaphorase in the adrenal gland of streptozotocin‐diabetic Wistar rats and its prevention by ganglioside
Author(s) -
Afework Mekbeb,
Lincoln Jill,
Belai Abebech,
Burnstock Geoffrey
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
international journal of developmental neuroscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.761
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1873-474X
pISSN - 0736-5748
DOI - 10.1016/0736-5748(95)00091-7
Subject(s) - endocrinology , medicine , streptozotocin , nitric oxide synthase , nadph dehydrogenase , adrenal gland , ganglioside , nitric oxide , diaphorase , diabetes mellitus , medulla , chemistry , biology , enzyme , biochemistry
Levels of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and NADPH‐diaphorase in adrenal glands of streptozotocin‐diabetic rats of 8 and 12 weeks' duration compared with control rats were assessed with histochemical and biochemical techniques. Adrenal glands from streptozotocin‐diabetic rats of 8 weeks' duration treated with ganglioside were examined also. In the adrenal medulla of 8‐weeks‐ and 12‐weeks‐diabetic rats, NOS‐immunoreactive nerve fibres were increased and decreased, respectively; additional NOS‐immunoreactive and NADPH‐diaphorase stained cells, which appeared to be cortical cells, were located in medulla and cortex compared with controls. Increased intensity in NADPH‐diaphorase staining of the cortical cells of diabetic rats was observed also. Ganglioside treatment of the 8‐weeks‐diabetic rats prevented the diabetic‐induced increase in NOS‐immunoreactive nerve fibres. Also, it reduced most of the increase in the NOS‐immunoreactive and NADPH‐diaphorase stained cells and the intensity of NADPH‐diaphorase staining of cortical cells. With biochemical assay, a significant increase in NOS activity was found in the adrenal glands from 8‐weeks‐diabetic rats, and this increase was reduced by ganglioside treatment in four out of six diabetic rats. In summary, streptozotocin‐induced diabetes causes an initial increase in the levels of NOS and NADPH‐diaphorase in the adrenal gland of rat, which was prevented by ganglioside treatment.