CEREBELLAR NITRIC-OXIDE SYNTHASE ACTIVITY IS REDUCED IN NERVOUS AND PURKINJE-CELL DEGENERATION MUTANTS BUT NOT IN CLIMBING FIBER-LESIONED MICE

We measured nitric oxide synthase activity in nervous, Purkinje cell d egeneration mutant mice and 3-acetylpyridine-treated mice to determine the cellular localization of nitric oxide synthase in the cerebellum. Nitric oxide synthase activity per cerebellum was reduced to less tha n 50% of that of controls in nervous and Purkinje cell degeneration mu tants, while in 3-acetylpyridine-treated mice there was no reduction.