Comparative distribution of nitric oxide synthase- and serotonin-containing neurons in the raphe nuclei of four mammalian species |
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Authors: | L Léger Yves Charnay Sophie Burlet Nadine Gay Nicolas Schaad Constantin Bouras Raymond Cespuglio |
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Institution: | (1) Département de Médecine Expérimentale, 8, Avenue Rockefeller, F-69373 Lyon Cedex 08, France Tel.: +33-4-7877-7128; Fax: +33-4-7877-7172 e-mail: leger@summeil.univ-lyon1.fr, FR;(2) Belle-Idée, Division de Neuropsychiatrie, 100 Avenue Bel-Air, CH-Chêne-Bourg/Geneva, Switzerland, CH |
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Abstract: | Monoclonal antibodies were generated against serotonin (5-HT) and the C-terminal portion of the neuronal form of nitric oxide
synthase (nNOS), the enzyme producing nitric oxide in neurons. These antibodies were used to compare the distribution of 5-HT-
and nNOS-containing neurons in the raphe nuclei of four animal species (rat, mouse, guinea pig, and cat). It was found that
the rat was the only species in which the raphe nuclei contain a substantial number of nNOS-immunoreactive (IR) cell bodies.
In this species and as observed by other authors, all mesencephalic raphe nuclei contained nNOS-IR cells, the largest group
being located in the nucleus raphe dorsalis. The coexistence of nNOS and 5-HT immunoreactivities in these nuclei was visualized
by double labeling. In the medulla, the nuclei raphe magnus and obscurus displayed a rather low number of nNOS-IR neurons.
In the other species, nNOS-IR cell bodies were found in very low numbers, whatever raphe nucleus was considered. The rostral
pole of the nucleus raphe dorsalis and the nuclei raphe magnus and obscurus contained a few nNOS-IR neurons which did not
show any coincidence with the 5-HT neurons. In addition, nNOS-IR axons were rare. It is concluded that in the mouse, guinea
pig, and cat the involvement of nitric oxide in functions subserved by 5-HT within the raphe nuclei might be minimal.
Accepted: 5 May 1998 |
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