European Journal of Anatomy

Official Journal of The Spanish Society of Anatomy
Cover Volume 2 - Number 1
Eur J Anat, 2 (1): 23-25 (1998)

Symposium the role of Nitric oxide 51ST Annual Meeting of the italian society of AnatomyNO-Producing neurons in the central nervous system: advances on morphology and functional roles

GianCarlo Panzica

Dept. Anatomy, Pharmacology, and Forensic Medicine, University of Torino (Italy)

ABSTRACT The folJowing section of this issue of the Europe­ an journal 01 Anatomy gathers the invited short lectures that were presented during the syrnpo­ síurn on Tbe Role 01 Nitric Oxide that was held during the 5]$1 Annual Meeting 01 tbe Italian Society 01 Anatomy (Torino, October 1997). The putative neurotransmítter role of nitric oxide (NO), one of the sirnplest rnolecules in nature, has recently been proposed. Science magazine narned NO the molecule of the year in its Decem­ ber 18, 1992 issue, and, folJowing the first pío­ niering studies, an impressive arnount of investí­ gations have elucidated the distribution of neurons producíng NO, as welJ as suggested dif­ ferent physiological roles for this gas. It is now very well established that NO is one of the most ubíquitous endogeneous signalJing molecules in neurobiology and probably a major player in ínflarnmatíon and host defense.It is hence hopeless try to review alJ the fue­ tions of NO in a single short syrnposium or collec­ tion of papers, and in Torino we ha ve centered the, focus of interest only on few important topics thatare reponed in the papers of this special issue.In particular, the article of Aimar et al. proví­des an overview on the ultrastructure, as welJ as on their synaptic connections, of NO-producing elernents in the spinal cord, the study of Sánchez el al. reviews the expression and plasticity of NO- producing neurons in the neuroendocrine hypot­ halamic systern in comparison with that of other neurochemical markers, the paper of vercelli el al. investiga tes the role of the O for the organi­ zation of target centers during the development of retinal projections. The study from Mariottielucidates factors inducing the expression of O synthase activity in motoneurons. Finally, the review of Panzica et al. sumrnarizes studies per­ formed on some non-marnmalian vertebrates, as welJ as the results of colocalization studics in the avian brain.These papers give also ínformation on the morphological techniques for the detection ofO producing elements that are today available.In particular, alJ these studíes have been perfor­ med using the histochernical reaction for the ADPH diaforase, a good marker for the O synthase in the nervous system. This reaction hasbeen here adapted to elucidate the ultrastructure of O producing neurons, as well as to detect them in a variety of condiiions, including double staining with other neurochernical markers, deve­ lopment, and reactive conditions.1 would like to thank here Ricardo Vázquez,Editor-in-Chief of the European [ournal of Ana­tomy, for agreeing ro publish this collection ofpapers in a high quality volume that will provídean important documentation of our symposium.

European Journal of anatomy
ISSN 2340-311X (Online)