Visualisation of nitric oxide released by nerve stimulation.

We have visualised nitric oxide (NO) released from the electrically stimulated myenteric plexus and hypogastric nerve. NO was visualised by a reaction with luminol and hydrogen peroxide to generate photons which were counted using a microscope coupled to a photon counting camera. Electrical stimulation of the tissues induced an increase in photon counts which was frequency-dependent and prevented by inhibition of the NO synthase or by tetrodotoxin. The light emitted during nerve stimulation was not only observed at the nerve terminals but also at the axon and soma. Our results indicate that NO released from the whole nerve cell may affect target cells surrounding all parts of the nitrergic neuron. Thus, NO functions as a unique mechanism of synaptic and non-synaptic communication in the nervous system.

Visualisation of nitric oxide generated by activated murine macrophages.

We have visualised the release and approximate diffusion profile of nitric oxide (NO) from activated murine macrophages using a high transmission microscope coupled to a high sensitivity photon counting camera. The images generated by NO were cell-associated and spread over an area of approximately 175 micrometers from the activated macrophage. The signals obtained were dependent on the presence of exogenous L-arginine in the medium and followed a time course similar to that previously described for the generation of NO by the inducible form of NO synthase. The light signal was attenuated by the inhibitor of NO synthase, N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. Studies using superoxide-deficient macrophages further confirmed that the signals detected were generated by NO rather than reactive oxygen intermediates.