Response of NADPH-diaphorase-exhibiting neurons in the medullar reticular formation to high spinal cord injury

• Published in: Cellular and molecular neurobiology Vol. 24; no. 6; pp. 865 - 872
• Main Authors: Kucharova, Karolina, Jalc, Pavol, Radonak, Jozef, Marsala, Jozef
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.12.2004
• Subjects: Animals; Female; Male; Medulla Oblongata - chemistry; Medulla Oblongata - enzymology; NADPH Dehydrogenase - analysis; NADPH Dehydrogenase - metabolism; Neurons - chemistry; Neurons - enzymology; Rabbits; Reticular Formation - chemistry; Reticular Formation - enzymology; Spinal Cord Injuries - enzymology
• ISSN: 0272-4340; 1573-6830
• DOI: 10.1007/s10571-004-6925-8

1. The effect of hemisection of the cervical spinal cord on NADPH-diaphorase staining in the reticular nuclei of the rabbit medulla was investigated using histochemical technique. 2. A quantitative assessment of somal and neuropil NADPH-diaphorase staining was made by an image analyzer in a selected area of each reticular nucleus of the rabbit medulla. 3. On the 7th postsurgery day, the highest up-regulation of somatic NADPH-diaphorase staining was observed in regions regulating cardiorespiratory processes; however, the highest increase of neuropil NADPH-diaphorase staining was found in the reticular nuclei modulating the tonus of postural muscles. 4. The degeneration of non-NADPH-diaphorase-stained neurons was detected throughout the reticular formation of the medulla, but the extent of neuronal death did not correlate with the up-regulation of the NADPH-diaphorase staining in the reticular nuclei of the medulla. 5. The findings provide evidence that NADPH-diaphorase-exhibiting neurons are refractory to the hemisection of the cervical spinal cord and that the neuronal up-regulation of NADPH-diaphorase at the medullar level is probably not a causative factor leading to the death of the reticulospinal neurons.