Activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase following spinal cord injury in mice

doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2008.03.039

Neuroscience Letters

Volume 436, Issue 2, 9 May 2008, Pages 265-268

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neulet.2008.03.039 Get rights and content

Abstract

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) plays a neuroprotective role after cerebral ischemia through the production of NO, which enhances cerebral blood flow. However, precise details regarding activation of eNOS after spinal cord injury (SCI) largely remain to be elucidated. In the present study we investigated chronological alteration and cellular location of eNOS and phosphorylated (p)-eNOS at Ser¹¹⁷⁷ following SCI in mice. Western blot analysis showed eNOS to be significantly phosphorylated at Ser¹¹⁷⁷ from 1 to 2 days after mild SCI, with gradual decrease thereafter. Immunohistochemistry revealed the p-eNOS to be mainly expressed in the endothelial cells of microvessels within gray matter under these conditions. These findings suggest that mild SCI activates eNOS in the subacute stage, which increases spinal cord blood flow and may be involved in protective and repair responses.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported in part by a grant from the Smoking Research Foundation (to Y.W.). We would like to express our gratitude to Dr. Malcolm Moore for critical reading of the manuscript.

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Activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase following spinal cord injury in mice

Abstract

Section snippets

Acknowledgements

Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.

FEBS Lett.

Neurosci. Lett.

Free Radic. Biol. Med.

J. Biol. Chem.

Neuroscience

Exp. Neurol.

Brain Res. Mol. Brain Res.

Brain Res.

Activation of the CED3/ICE-related protease CPP32 in cerebellar granule neurons undergoing apoptosis but not necrosis

J. Neurosci.

The phosphorylation state of eNOS modulates vascular reactivity and outcome of cerebral ischemia in vivo

J. Clin. Invest.

Traumatic spinal cord injury induces nuclear factor-kappaB activation

J. Neurosci.

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase activation and peroxynitrite formation in ischemic stroke linked to neural damage

J. Neurosci.

Nitric oxide-dependent production of cGMP supports the survival of rat embryonic motor neurons cultured with brain-derived neurotrophic factor

J. Neurosci.