Research article summary (published 30 Aug 1999):

Nitric oxide synthase in identified olivocochlear projection neurons in rat and guinea pig.

Full Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) is thought to be involved in the effects of amino acids at the level of cochlear hair cell afferents. Recently, the isoform of the NO-producing enzyme, neuronal NO synthase (nNOS), has been demonstrated in neuronal structures of the cochlea in rats and guinea pigs histochemically and immunohistochemically. To investigate the sources of cochlear NO, we injected Fluoro-Gold (FG) into the cochlea of rats and guinea pigs. Upon terminal uptake of the tracer and neuronal transport we observed FG in terminals at the base of inner (IHC) and outer hair cells (OHC) and in neurons of the spiral ganglion. Ganglion cells and terminals at the IHC were clearly nNOS-positive, while terminals at the OHC exhibited nNOS-immunoreactivity to a minor degree. The immunohistochemical investigation of the auditory brainstem showed that about one-fourth of the neurons of the superior olivary complex contained nNOS. The comparison with retrogradely labeled neurons showed that perikarya in the lateral superior olivary nucleus and, in particular, the medial nucleus of the trapezoid body were double-labeled. These results were similar in both, rat and guinea pig. Our data reveal that neurons of the superior olivary complex are likely to be additional sources of neuronal NOS in the cochlea.

Author information

Author/s: Riemann, R (R); Reuss, S (S);

Affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Würzburg, Germany. randolf(-atsign-)mail.uni-wuerzburg.de

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Hearing research (Hear Res), published in NETHERLANDS. (Language: eng)

Reference: 1999-Sep; vol 135 (issue 1-2) : pp 181-9

Dates: Created 1999/11/05; Completed 1999/11/05; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 10491966, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Animals Auditory Pathways - cytology; enzymology Cochlea - cytology; enzymology; innervation Fluorescent Dyes Guinea Pigs Immunohistochemistry Male

Neurons - enzymology Nitric Oxide Synthase - metabolism Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I Olivary Nucleus - cytology; enzymology Rats Rats, Sprague-Dawley Stilbamidines

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Associated Chemicals: 2-hydroxy-4,4'-diamidinostilbene, methanesulfonate salt (0) ; Fluorescent Dyes (0) ; Stilbamidines (0) ; Nitric Oxide Synthase (EC 1.14.13.39) ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I (EC 1.14.13.39) ; Nos1 protein, rat (EC 1.14.13.39)

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