Nitric oxide is a universal molecule which regulates numerous functions in the body. In the retina, nitric oxide plays a regulatory role modulating synaptic transmission between photoreceptors and bipolar cells; it also has a toxic role and is a necessary inducer of the development of apoptosis in the outer nuclear layer and the ganglion cell layer. We report here studies of the endogenous nitric oxide concentration in vivo in the cellar layers of the retina. Nitric oxide concentrations were determined by two independent methods – using a spin trap and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and an NO-sensitive microelectrode, to obtain in situ measurements in the live isolated frog retina. Significant nitric oxide concentrations were seen only in the ganglion cell layer (~0.25 μM) and the inner segments of photoreceptors (~0.6 μM). NO synthase was present in the same locations; the activity and kinetic parameters of this enzyme were also determined.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A. E. Dontsov, P. P. Zak, and M. A. Ostrovskii, “ATP regeneration in the outer segments of frog photoreceptors,” Biokhimiya, 43, No. 4, 592–595 (1978).
P. P. Zak, T. V. Lelekova, and M. A. Ostrovskii, “Distribution of acetylcholine in the retinal layers of the frog eye,” Fiziol. Zh. SSSR, 60, 1397–1403 (1974).
G. R. Kalamkarov, T. S. Konstantinova, A. E. Bugrova, et al., “Nitrites can be regenerated in the retinal vessels in hypoxia and protect the retina from ischemia and apoptosis,” Biofi zika, 55, No. 4, 687–692 (2010).
G. R. Kalamkarov, O. G. Lunkina, and T. F. Shevchenko, “Nitric oxide in the outer synaptic layer of the vertebrate retina,” Sensor. Sist., 16, 121–131 (2002).
T. S. Konstantinova, A. E. Bugrova, T. F. Shevchenko, et al., “Changes in nitric oxide levels regulate the development of apoptosis in the retina,” Biofi zika, 57, No. 2, 325–330 (2012).
K. Donner, S. Hemila, and A. Koskelainen, “On the relation between ERG waves and retinal function: inverted rod photoresponses from the frog retina,” Vision Res., 32, No. 8, 1411–1416 (1992).
M. Donovan, R. J. Carmody, and T. G. Cotter, “Light-induced photoreceptor apoptosis in vivo requires neuronal nitric-oxide synthase and guanylate cyclase activity and is caspase-3-independent,” J. Biol. Chem., 276, No. 25, 23,000–23,008 (2001).
J. Garthwaite, “Glutamate, nitric oxide and cell-cell signalling in the nervous system,” TINS, 14, 60–68 (1991).
J. Garthwaite and C. L. Boulton, “Nitric oxide signaling in the central nervous system,” Annu. Rev. Physiol., 57, 683–706 (1995).
T. Malinski, M. W. Radomski, Z. Taha, and S. Moncada, “Direct electrochemical measurement of nitric oxide released from human platelets,” Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun., 194, No. 2, 960–965 (1993).
S. Moncada, R. M. J. Palmer, and E. A. Higgs, “Nitric oxide: physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology,” Pharmacol. Rev., 43, 109–142 (1991).
A. H. Neufeld, S. Kawai, S. Das, et al., “Loss of retinal ganglion cells following retinal ischemia: the role of inducible nitric oxide synthase,” Exp. Eye Res., 75, No. 5, 521–528 (2002).
M. Yu. Obolenskaya, A. F. Vanin, P. I. Mordvintcev, et al., “Evidence of nitric oxide production by the regenerating rat liver,” Biophys. Biochem. Res. Commun., 202, No. 1, 571–576 (1994).
F. Sennlaub, Y. Curtois, and O. Goureau, “Inducible nitric oxide synthase mediates retinal apoptosis in ischemic proliferative retinopathy,” J. Neurosci., 22, No. 10, 3987–3993 (2002).
R. A. Shiells and G. Falk, “Glutamate receptors of rod bipolar cells are linked to a cyclic GMP cascade via a G-protein,” Proc. Roy. Soc. Lond. B. Biol. Sci., 242, No. 1304, 91–94 (1990).
N. Toda and M. Nakanishi-Toda, “Nitric oxide: ocular blood flow, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy,” Prog. Retin. Eye Res., 26, No. 3, 205–238 (2007).
A. F. Vanin, A. Huisman, and E. E. van Faassen, “Iron dithiocarbamate as spin trap for nitric oxide detection: pitfalls and successes,” Meth. Enzymol., 359, 27–42 (2002).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Translated from Rossiiskii Fiziologicheskii Zhurnal imeni I. M. Sechenova, Vol. 100, No. 7, pp. 852–860, July, 2014.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Kalamkarov, G.R., Bugrova, A.E., Konstantinova, T.S. et al. Endogenous Nitric Oxide Content in the Cellular Layers of the Retina. Neurosci Behav Physi 46, 291–295 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11055-016-0232-y
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11055-016-0232-y