NADPH-diaphorase reactivity in the Mauthner cells of the swordtail fish, Xiphophorus helleri

• Published in: Neuroscience letters Vol. 206; no. 1; pp. 49 - 52
• Main Authors: Anken, Ralf H., Sorger, Ingeborg, Bremen, Dirk, Rahmann, Hinrich
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 08-03-1996; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animals; Biochemistry and metabolism; Biological and medical sciences; Central nervous system; Cyprinodontiformes - metabolism; Escape response; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Histochemistry; Histocytochemistry; Medulla Oblongata - cytology; Medulla Oblongata - enzymology; NADPH Dehydrogenase - metabolism; Neurons - enzymology; Nitric oxide synthase; Nitric Oxide Synthase - metabolism; Reticulospinal neuron; Rhombencephalon; Rhombencephalon - cytology; Rhombencephalon - enzymology; Teleost; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Xiphophorus helleri; Teleost; Reticulospinal neuron; Nitric oxide synthase; Rhombencephalon; Escape response; Histochemistry; Rhomboencephalon; Enzyme; Mauthner neuron; Central nervous system; NADPH dehydrogenase; Nitric-oxide synthase; Vertebrata; Enzymatic activity; Giant neuron; Pisces; Oxidoreductases; Brain (vertebrata)
• ISSN: 0304-3940; 1872-7972
• DOI: 10.1016/0304-3940(96)12422-8

The presence of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPHDH) in fixed tissue was histochemically demonstrated in the Mauthner cells of the teleost fish
Xiphophorus helleri. This is the first detection of the enzyme in these giant neurons (which are restricted to fishes and amphibians) of a gnathostomate vertebrate. NADPHDH reactivity in fixed tissue is thought to reflect the activity of nitric oxide synthase. Thus, nitric oxide, a gaseous intercellular messenger, is probably synthesized in the Mauthner cells.