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Distribution and characterization of nitric oxide synthase in the nervous system of Triatoma infestans (Insecta: Heteroptera)

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Abstract

The biochemical characterization of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and its distribution in the central nervous system (CNS) were studied in the heteropteran bug Triatoma infestans. NOS-like immunoreactivity was found in the brain, subesophageal ganglion, and thoracic ganglia by using immunocytochemistry. In the protocerebrum, NOS-immunoreactive (IR) somata were detected in the anterior, lateral, and posterior soma rinds. In the optic lobe, numerous immunostained somata were observed at the level of the first optic chiasma, around the lobula, and in the proximal optic lobe. In the deutocerebrum, NOS-IR perikarya were mainly observed in the lateral soma rind, surrounding the sensory glomeruli, and a few cell bodies were seen in association with the antennal mechanosensory and motor neuropil. No immunostaining could be detected in the antennal nerve. The subesophageal and prothoracic ganglia contained scattered immunostained cell bodies. NOS-IR somata were present in all the neuromeres of the posterior ganglion. Western blotting showed that a universal NOS antiserum recognized a band at 134 kDa, in agreement with the expected molecular weight of the protein. Analysis of the kinetics of nitric oxide production revealed a fully active enzyme in tissue samples of the CNS of T. infestans.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to D. Canale and A. Stariolo (Center for the Control of Chagas’ disease) for providing the insects, to G. Ruffolo and S. Ruffolo for technical assistance, and P. Jansma (Arizona Research Laboratories, Division of Neurobiology, University of Arizona) for expert help with the confocal microscope. The assistance of C. Collmann and M. Kaneko is also acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Austral, Pte Perón 1500, B1629AHJ, Pilar, Pcia de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Beatriz P. Settembrini, María F. Coronel & Marcelo J. Villar

  2. Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales, C1405DJR, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Beatriz P. Settembrini

  3. Centro de Investigaciones Endocrinológicas-Conicet, C1425EFD, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Susana Nowicki

  4. Arizona Research Laboratories, Division of Neurobiology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA

    Alan J. Nighorn

Authors
  1. Beatriz P. Settembrini
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  2. María F. Coronel
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  3. Susana Nowicki
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  4. Alan J. Nighorn
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  5. Marcelo J. Villar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Beatriz P. Settembrini.

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This work was funded by the Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas. Universidad Austral. A.J.N. is supported by the NIH-NIDCD (DC04292). Part of this work was performed at the Arizona Research Laboratories, Division of Neurobiology (Tucson, Arizon, USA) with the support of a Fulbright Research Award to B.P.S.

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Settembrini, B.P., Coronel, M.F., Nowicki, S. et al. Distribution and characterization of nitric oxide synthase in the nervous system of Triatoma infestans (Insecta: Heteroptera). Cell Tissue Res 328, 421–430 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-006-0359-1

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