Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
1
pubmed:dateCreated
2000-5-8
pubmed:abstractText
Previous studies have focused on the immunohistochemical detection of a nitric oxide (NO)-cyclic 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) pathway in the brain and pituitary of the aquatic toad Xenopus laevis. We here investigate the endogenous production and possible involvement of NO signaling in the regulation of melanotrope cell activity in the pituitary pars intermedia of this amphibian. Using immunohistochemical staining of cultured cells with a polyclonal antiserum against inducible NO synthase (iNOS), immunoreactivity was observed both in melanotropes and in stellate-shaped cells. Part of these stellate-shaped cells is characterized as folliculo-stellate cells by their capacity of beta-Ala-Lys-N(epsilon)-AMCA uptake. Using chemiluminescence detection we demonstrate the presence of NO and reaction products like nitrite (NO(-)(2)) or peroxynitrite (ONOO(-)) in the incubation medium of cultured melanotropes. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates the generation of NO and reaction products, the effect of which was blocked by S-methyl-l-thiocitrulline hydrochloride, a potent general NOS inhibitor. With [(3)H]lysine incorporation and a superfusion technique, it is shown that peptide release from melanotropes is stimulated by administration of superoxide dismutase (SOD), which was added to the superfusion medium to prevent scavenging of NO by superoxide anions. Pretreating the cells with the general NOS inhibitor l-nitroarginine methyl ester for 48 h attenuated the SOD-induced stimulation, but did not affect the stimulation by sodium nitroprusside (SNP) or 3-morpholinylsydnoneimine chloride (SIN-1), whereas hemoglobin blocked the combined effect of SOD plus NO donors. The soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2, 4]oxadiazolo[4,3a]-quinoxaline-1-one did not inhibit but even significantly potentiated the effect of NO donors on peptide release without affecting the SOD-induced stimulation of peptide release. In addition to the previously described neuronal NOS (nNOS) immunoreactivity in nerve fibers in the pars intermedia of Xenopus, the present data reveal iNOS and nNOS as potential sources of endogenous NO production in cultured cells of the pars intermedia. Our study shows that also in nonmammalian vertebrates endogenous NO production may be physiologically relevant under conditions where protection against oxidative damage is needed. The endocrine cells of the pars intermedia themselves, as well as the folliculo-stellate cells, under such conditions may dispose of a protective mechanism against oxidative stress. The sensitivity of the endogenous NO production to LPS suggests that NO may also play a role during systemic inflammation.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Feb
pubmed:issn
1089-8603
pubmed:author
pubmed:copyrightInfo
Copyright 2000 Academic Press.
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
4
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
15-28
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2000
pubmed:articleTitle
Endogenous production of nitric oxide and effects of nitric oxide and superoxide on melanotrope functioning in the pituitary pars intermedia of Xenopus laevis.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Cellular Animal Physiology, Nijmegen Institute for Neurosciences, University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, Nijmegen, 6525 ED, The Netherlands.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't