Vol 62, No 3 (2003)
Original article
Published online: 2003-06-09
Developmental changes in nitric oxide synthase protein expression in the rat striatum and cerebral cortex
Folia Morphol 2003;62(3):171-174.
Abstract
We examined the expression of brain nitric oxide synthase (bNOS) in two developing rat brain structures, the striatum and the cerebral cortex. For this purpose, we quantified the relative protein concentration level using the Western blotting method and densitometric scanning. 32 Wistar rats, divided according to survival period (P0-P120-postnatal days) were used in this study. Our results demonstrate that bNOS expression rises in these structures during the first week of postnatal life, reaching a maximum in the striatum on the 10th day and in the
cerebral cortex on the 7th day of postnatal life. After the period of increase the expression declines and after the 14th day a stabilisation of bone protein concentration
is observed, both in the striatum and the cerebral cortex.
These changes in bone protein expression might be related to the important role of nitric oxide in the developing rat brain, especially in synaptogenesis, apoptosis and neurotransmission.
These changes in bone protein expression might be related to the important role of nitric oxide in the developing rat brain, especially in synaptogenesis, apoptosis and neurotransmission.
Keywords: nitric oxideprotein expressionWestern blottingdevelopmentcerebral cortexstriatumrat
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