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Differential localization of heme oxygenase and NADPH-diaphorase in spinal cord neurons
B E Dwyer1, R N Nishimura, S Y Lu
1Molecular Neurobiology Laboratory (IIIN-1), Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Sepulveda, CA 91343, USA.
Abstract:
Western blot analysis using several antibodies showed that rat spinal cord contained abundant immunostainable heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) and barely detectable levels of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1). Anti-HO-2 antibody stained large anterior horn motoneurones and numerous smaller neurons throughout spinal cord gray matter including the dorsal root entry zone. HO-2+ astrocytes were not evident in gray matter although their presence cannot be ruled out. The distribution of HO-2+ neurons was compared with the distribution of cells containing NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) activity, a marker for nitric oxide synthase. NADPH-d activity was restricted to far fewer neurons, many of which were close to the central canal and dorsal root entry zone.