G. Keilhoff et al., ABSENCE OF NITRIC-OXIDE SYNTHASE IN RAT OLIGODENDROCYTES - A LIGHT AND ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC STUDY, Acta histochemica, 100(4), 1998, pp. 409-417
The existence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in oligodendroglial cells
is still a matter of debate. Therefore, by using immunocytochemistry,
NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) histochemistry and in-situ hybridization,
NOS was analysed in oligodendroglial cells of rat brain tissue and in
tissue cultures. Independent of the method utilized, NOS was found to
be absent in oligodendrocytes. An exception was the presence of NADPH-
d activity in some oligodendroglial cells when the electron microscopi
c BSPT-technique was used. However, this activity is probably not rela
ted to NOS. The absence of NO-producing capacity in these cells may ex
plain their high vulnerability to radical-mediated toxicity.