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Morphological identification of nitric oxide sources and targets in the cat oculomotor system

Nitric oxide (NO) production by specific neurons in the prepositus hypoglossi (PH) nucleus is necessary for the correct performance of eye movements in alert cats. In an attempt to characterize the morphological substrate of this NO function, the distribution of nitrergic neurons and NO‐responding neurons has been investigated in different brainstem structures related to eye movements. Nitrergic neurons were stained by either immunohistochemistry for NO synthase I or histochemistry for reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) diaphorase. The NO targets were identified by cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) immunohistochemistry in animals treated with a NO donor immediately before fixation of the brain. Connectivity between cells of the NO‐cGMP pathway was analyzed by injections of the retrograde tracers horseradish peroxidase or fast blue in different structures. The motor nuclei commanding extraocular muscles did not contain elements of the NO‐cGMP pathway, except for some scattered nitrergic neurons in the most caudal part of the abducens nucleus. The PH nucleus contained the largest number of nitrergic cell bodies and a rich neuropil, distributed in two groups in medial and lateral positions in the caudal part, and one central group in the rostral part of the nucleus. An abundant cGMP positive neuropil was the only NO‐sensitive element in the PH nucleus, where no cGMP‐producing neuronal cell bodies were observed. The opposite disposition was found in the marginal zone between the PH and the medial vestibular nuclei, with a large number of NO‐sensitive cGMP‐producing neurons and almost no nitrergic cells. Both nitrergic and NO‐sensitive cell bodies were found in the medial and inferior vestibular nuclei and in the superior colliculus, whereas the lateral geniculate nucleus contained nitrergic neuropil and a large number of NO‐sensitive cell bodies. Some of the cGMP‐positive neurons in the marginal zone and medial vestibular nucleus projected to the PH nucleus, predominantly to the ipsilateral side. These morphological findings may help to explain the mechanism of action of NO in the oculomotor system. J. Comp. Neurol. 435:311–324, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.