DISTRIBUTION OF NEURONAL NITRIC-OXIDE SYNTHASE IN THE RAT-LIVER

We studied the distribution of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) i n the rat liver with a specific polyclonal antibody by using immunocyt ochemical procedures in the light microscopic level. Immunoreactive va ricose nerve fibers were found forming a dense plexus around the inter lobular hepatic artery and the interlobular bile duct in the hepatic h ilus, and in the hepatic artery ramifications of the portal triads. Th e density of nNOS positive nerve fibers decreases with successive port al ramifications, and some non-immune positive nerve fibers were found in the distal portions of the arterial vessels. The presence of the n NOS positive nerve fibers suggests that the possible main functional r ole could be related with the regulation of hepatic blood circulation and hepatobiliary activities. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.