Preliminary study on the production of nitric oxide and expression of nitric oxide synthase by camel macrophages [with one table and one figure]

Nitric Oxide is produced by macrophage when activated or invaded by certain antigens or microbes. In the present study, camel peripheral blood leukocytes were obtained by ficoll cushion. Monocytes were separated and grown to macrophages. The mature macrophages were exposed to E. coli LPS as well as sheep pox virus antigen. Nitric oxide [NO] production, by stimulated macrophages as well as the mRNA specific for production of inducible nitric oxide syntheses [iNOS], were investigated. Production of NO was stimulated by both pox antigen and LPS and was more with the latter. The obtained results indicated the similarity in the tested parameters between camel macrophages and those of other mammals tested so far viz mice