Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Is Present in Dendritic Spines of Neurons in Primary Cultures.

ABSTRACT: Nitric oxide exerts important regulatory functions in various brain processes. Its synthesis in neurons has been most commonly ascribed to the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) isoform. However, the endothelial isoform (eNOS), which is significantly associated with caveolae in different cell types, has been implicated in synaptic plasticity and is enriched in the dendrites of CA1 hippocampal neurons. Using high resolution microscopy and co-distribution analysis of eNOS with synaptic and raft proteins, we now show for the first time in primary cortical and hippocampal neuronal cultures, virtually devoid of endothelial cells, that eNOS is present in neurons and is localized in dendritic spines. Moreover, eNOS is present in a postsynaptic density-enriched biochemical fraction isolated fro

SUBMITTER: Caviedes A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5495831 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature