Partial Colocalization of NADPH-Diaphorase and
Acetylcholinesterase Positivity in Spinal Cord Neurons
D. KLUCHOVÁ, K. SCHMIDTOVÁ, S. RYBÁROVÁ, K, LOVÁSOVÁ, M. POMFY1,
T. PROSBOVÁ1, A. VATĽAK
Department of Anatomy and 1Department of
Histology and Embryology, Šafárik University, Košice, Slovak Republic
Received July 30, 1999
Accepted September 21, 1999
Summary
The freely diffusible radical, nitric oxide (NO), has been assumed to act as a retrograde
signaling molecule that modulates transmitter release. Acetylcholine (ACh) is known to
function as a typical neurotransmitter. In the present work we have examined the presence
of both transmitters (NO and ACh) and their possible relations in the rabbit spinal cord.
In our experiments we have used histochemical methods for the visualization of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and NADPH diaphorase (NADPH-d) which label neurons that
express nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Both histochemical methods were performed separately
or together on the same sections of the thoracic spinal cord. NADPH-d positive dark blue
stained neurons were seen mostly in superficial and deep layers of the dorsal horn, preganglionic autonomic neurons and pericentral area. The presence of AChE positive amber
yellow neurons was confirmed mostly in motoneurons located in the ventral horns and in
neurons of the pericentral and intermediate zone. Besides the above mentioned neurons,
also double-labeled neurons were found which contained both the yellow and dark blue histochemical product. Their presence was confirmed in the intermediate zone and in the pericentral area. Thus, the co-existence of NADPH-d and AChE occurred in the location of interneurons. Our observations suggest that NO may play a role in the control of
cholinergic neuronal activity and that NO can be involved in the modulation of synaptic
transmission.
Key words
NADPH diaphorase · Acetylcholinesterase · Co-existence · Spinal cord
Reprint requests
D. Kluchová, Assoc.Prof., M.D., PhD., Department of Anatomy, Šafárik University,
Šrobárova 2, 04000 Košice, Slovak Republic, e-mail: kluch@dodo.sk.
|