The involvement of glial NO synthase/NO in neuronal apoptosis in the brain

Cerebral ischemia induces a variety of cellular and molecular responses in the brain. Among these responses, glial expression of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) and neuronal death are crucial, because these seem to be relevant to serious brain disorders. Therefore, elucidation of the mechanisms of glial iNOS expression and NO-induced neuronal apoptosis could be important in terms of the pharmacological manipulation of brain in-farction induced by several stress factors, such as ischemia. The present article reviews the recent findings in cytoche-mical, cellular and molecular investigations on the cerebral ischemia- and bacterial endotoxin (LPS)/IFNgamma-induced iNOS expression and NO-induced neuronal apoptosis in the brain.