Nitric oxide synthase in cultured endothelial cells of cerebrovascular origin: cytochemistry

Cultured cells derived from the cerebromicrovasculature can be shown to contain the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS) by NADPH diaphorase staining. NOS is located largely as a distinct crescent adjacent to the nuclear membrane. NOS in these cells appears to be associated with the microtubule and microfilament structures and the Golgi apparatus of the cell as opposed to being freely soluble in the cytoplasm or bound to the plasma membrane. Disruption of the integrity of these structures with colchicine or cytochalasin B causes a change in the subcellular localization of NOS as well as a change in the intensity of staining.