NITRIC-OXIDE SYNTHASE EXPRESSION IN VAGAL COMPLEX FOLLOWING VAGOTOMY IN THE RAT

PERIPHERAL axotomy of the spinal nerve and avulsion of the ventral roo ts have been found to induce increase in expression of nitric oxide sy nthase (NOS) in the spinal motor neurones and the dorsal root ganglion . The present study investigated changes of NOS, using NADPH-diaphoras e (NADPH-d) reactivity as the marker, in vagal complex after axotomy i n the rat. Eight days after left cervical vagotomy the NADPH-d reactiv ity was found to be markedly enhanced in the dorsal motor nucleus of t he vagus nerve, the ambiguus nucleus, the solitary tract and the nucle us of the tractus solitarius, and the nodose ganglion. This study offe rs the first evidence of changes in NOS expression in cranial visceral components following axotomy.