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Ultrastructural localization of NADPH-diaphorase and colocalization of nitric oxide synthase in endothelial cells of the rabbit aorta

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Abstract

This is the first report on the ultrastructural pattern of distribution of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate diaphorase (NADPH-d) in endothelial cells, using the rabbit aorta, and its colocalization with the neuronal isoform (type I) of nitric oxide synthase. About 30% of the endothelial cells showed a positive reaction for NADPH-d compared to about 6% for nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity. Simultaneous double histochemical-immunocytochemical labelling procedures indicate that all of the cells displaying nitric oxide synthase-positive reactivity also contained NADPH-d; the remainder of NADPH-d-positive endothelial cells were negative for this isoform of nitric oxide synthase. Nitric oxide synthase-immunogold labelling was mostly associated with free ribosomes, while NADPH-d activity was distributed largely in patches in the cytoplasm and in association with the cell membrane.

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Loesch, A., Belai, A. & Burnstock, G. Ultrastructural localization of NADPH-diaphorase and colocalization of nitric oxide synthase in endothelial cells of the rabbit aorta. Cell Tissue Res 274, 539–545 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00314551

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00314551

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