Biomaterial Database

Localization of NADPH-diaphorase/nitric oxide synthase in the rat retina: an electron microscopic study. 1995

S Darius, and G Wolf, and P L Huang, and M C Fishman

Institute of Medical Neurobiology, University of Magdeburg, Germany.

The activity of NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d), a marker for nitric oxide synthase (NOS), was examined histochemically in the rat and mice retina. Mice in which the neuronal NOS gene has been disrupted (nNOS- mice) were used for specificity controls. Light microscopically a few amacrine cells were heavily stained. Other cells were stained weakly or not at all. Under the electron microscope, formazan precipitates were detectable on membranes of endoplasmic reticulum, nuclear envelope, mitochondria, and, in a few cases, the Golgi complex. Bipolar, horizontal, and Müller cells, were if at all, sparsely labeled with formazan. Labeled mitochondria were observed in rod endings and in inner segments of photoreceptors. Outer segments of photoreceptors and ganglion cells were completely free of reaction product. The NADPH-d reaction in wild-type mice displayed a similar distribution pattern to that in rats. Retinae of nNOS- mice showed a complete lack of prominent NADPH-d stained (amacrine) cells. None or a very few labeled membranes were seen.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007202	Indicators and Reagents	Substances used for the detection, identification, analysis, etc. of chemical, biological, or pathologic processes or conditions. Indicators are substances that change in physical appearance, e.g., color, at or approaching the endpoint of a chemical titration, e.g., on the passage between acidity and alkalinity. Reagents are substances used for the detection or determination of another substance by chemical or microscopical means, especially analysis. Types of reagents are precipitants, solvents, oxidizers, reducers, fluxes, and colorimetric reagents. (From Grant & Hackh's Chemical Dictionary, 5th ed, p301, p499)	Indicator,Reagent,Reagents,Indicators,Reagents and Indicators
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D009252	NADPH Dehydrogenase	A flavoprotein that reversibly oxidizes NADPH to NADP and a reduced acceptor. EC 1.6.99.1.	NADP Dehydrogenase,NADP Diaphorase,NADPH Diaphorase,Old Yellow Enzyme,TPN Diaphorase,Dehydrogenase, NADP,Dehydrogenase, NADPH,Diaphorase, NADP,Diaphorase, NADPH,Diaphorase, TPN,Enzyme, Old Yellow
D012160	Retina	The ten-layered nervous tissue membrane of the eye. It is continuous with the OPTIC NERVE and receives images of external objects and transmits visual impulses to the brain. Its outer surface is in contact with the CHOROID and the inner surface with the VITREOUS BODY. The outer-most layer is pigmented, whereas the inner nine layers are transparent.	Ora Serrata
D005562	Formazans	Colored azo compounds formed by the reduction of tetrazolium salts. Employing this reaction, oxidoreductase activity can be determined quantitatively in tissue sections by allowing the enzymes to act on their specific substrates in the presence of tetrazolium salts.	Formazan
D006651	Histocytochemistry	Study of intracellular distribution of chemicals, reaction sites, enzymes, etc., by means of staining reactions, radioactive isotope uptake, selective metal distribution in electron microscopy, or other methods.	Cytochemistry
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013045	Species Specificity	The restriction of a characteristic behavior, anatomical structure or physical system, such as immune response; metabolic response, or gene or gene variant to the members of one species. It refers to that property which differentiates one species from another but it is also used for phylogenetic levels higher or lower than the species.	Species Specificities,Specificities, Species,Specificity, Species
D013347	Subcellular Fractions	Components of a cell produced by various separation techniques which, though they disrupt the delicate anatomy of a cell, preserve the structure and physiology of its functioning constituents for biochemical and ultrastructural analysis. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p163)	Fraction, Subcellular,Fractions, Subcellular,Subcellular Fraction
D013778	Tetrazolium Salts	Quaternary salts derived from tetrazoles. They are used in tests to distinguish between reducing sugars and simple aldehydes, for detection of dehydrogenase in tissues, cells, and bacteria, for determination of corticosteroids, and in color photography. (From Mall's Dictionary of Chemistry, 5th ed, p455)	Tetrazolium Salt,Salt, Tetrazolium,Salts, Tetrazolium