Distribution of nitric oxide synthase positive neurons in spinal cord of rats with cirrhosis

Li LI; Xiulai GAO

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

Cirrhosis can cause severe effect on spinal cord or other tissue and organ sometimes.

OBJECTIVE:

To establish cirrhosis model with rat liver injured by tetrachloride so as to investigate the distribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)in spinal cord of rats with cirrhosis.

DESIGN:

Completely randomized controlled study.

SETTING:

Anatomy Department of Capital University of Medical Sciences.MATERIALS The experiment was completed at the Anatomy Department of Capital University of Medical Sciences from March 2002 to December 2003. Totally 20 male Wistar rats were divided randomly into cirrhosis group and normal group with 10 in each group.

METHODS:

Cirrhosis model in cirrhosis group was established with rat liver injured by tetrachloride, but rats in normal group were not treated with any method. After 3 months, total rats in the two groups were perfused and fixed; meanwhile, tissue of spinal cord was taken out for section.Quantity and gray degree of NOS positive cell in spinal cord of rats with cirrhosis were measured with nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydrogen phosphate-diaphorase (NADHP-d) histochemical method and Leica Q500IW image analysis system.MAIN OUTCOME

MEASURES:

[1] Gray degree of NOS positive neurons of rats in the two groups; [2] Distribution of NOS positive cell of rats in the two groups.

RESULTS:

Twenty rats all entered the final analysis. [1] Gray degree of NOS positive neurons of rats in the two groups was 60 (P ＞ 0.05). [2] In the area of gray matter of spinal cord, NOS positive cells were mainly distributed over the circumference of central canal, i.e. the Ⅹ layer of spinal cord and intermediolateral nucleus. Color of NADHP-d was positive, and the cellular form was shaped in triangle and fusiform. Cellular nucleus was not colored but color of cytoplasm was deep. The size of cells was moderate mainly of 25 μm. NOS positive cells were generally distributed averagely over intermediate zone of gray matter in cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal cord and had no specific changes.

CONCLUSION:

Expression of NOS in spinal cord of rats in the cirrhosis group and the normal group is probably identical. Distributive characteristics of nitrogen monoxide (NO) in spinal cord suggest that adjustment on low sympathetic nerve of rats with cirrhosis is not different from that of the normal.