Evidence that the Neurokinin 1 Receptor is Expressed in spinal Neurones Which Do Not Synthesize Nitric Oxide in the Rat

Authors: MÜMTAZ NAZLI, RICHARD MORRIS

Abstract: The co-localization of the distribution of the neurokinin 1 receptor with nitric oxide was investigated in laminae I-II, III- IV, X and in the intermediolateral horn of the spinal cord in thirteen adult rats. Silver-intensified gold and standard immunocytochemical labelling or standard double immunocytochemical labelling were employed in 40µm-thick sections of the spinal cord. There were many NK1 receptor-expressing neurones in the dorsal horn of the spinal cord, but none of these expressed NOS. Although neurones expressing the NK1 receptor and NOS were in close proximity in LX and IML, co-localization of the NK1 receptor and NOS in single neurones was extremely rare in these regions.

Keywords: Neurokinin, nitric oxide, nociception, spinal cord, substance P.

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