The intrinsic and vagal extrinsic innervation of the rat stomach contains nitric oxide synthase

• Published in: Neuroreport Vol. 4; no. 3; p. 275
• Main Authors: Forster, E R, Southam, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01-03-1993
• Subjects: Amino Acid Oxidoreductases - metabolism; Animals; Animals, Newborn - physiology; Brain Stem - anatomy & histology; Brain Stem - enzymology; Capsaicin - pharmacology; Female; Histocytochemistry; Male; Medulla Oblongata - anatomy & histology; Medulla Oblongata - enzymology; Motor Neurons - drug effects; NADPH Dehydrogenase - analysis; Neurons, Afferent - drug effects; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Stomach - enzymology; Stomach - innervation; Vagotomy; Vagus Nerve - enzymology; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide - physiology
• ISSN: 0959-4965
• DOI: 10.1097/00001756-199303000-00012

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) associated with the intrinsic and vagal extrinsic innervation of the rat gastric corpus was studied in both control and neonatally capsaicin-treated animals. Nerve cell bodies and fibres of both the myenteric and sub-mucosal plexi of the gastric corpus was found to contain NOS, but were distinct from those containing VIP. NOS-positive fibres were seen innervating the circular smooth muscle layer. Stain accumulated both proximal and distal to a vagal ligature. Staining of the nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS) was associated with specific sub-nuclei. Neonatal capsaicin treatment did not alter the staining in the NTS, vagus nerve or stomach. The data presented here support the idea that NO is a non-adrenergic non-cholinergic transmitter associated with gastric function.