Abstract
In addition to nitric oxide, recent evidence supports carbon monoxide (CO) as an important gaseous molecule that acts as a neurotransmitter in the CNS. Based on recent data supporting CO regulation of neurosecretory hypothalamic function, we aimed to characterize the hypothalamic HO‐CO pathway, by determining the distribution of the HO1 and HO2 isoforms in identified SON and PVN cell types. Robust HO1 and HO2 immunoreactivities (ir) were observed within the SON and PVN. HO1ir was more predominant than HO2ir, both were more densely expressed in the SON than in the PVN, and neuronal and glial‐like staining patterns were observed. Multiple‐labeling studies showed dense HO1ir in magnocellular neurosecretory neurons, and a more predominant expression in oxytocin than in vasopressin cells. HO1ir was also found in nNOS positive neurons. The SON ventral glial lamina and SON/PVN microvasculature also displayed strong HO1ir, which colocalized with the glial markers GFAP and S100. These results support that both neurons and astrocytes constitute cellular sources of CO within the SON and PVN. Ongoing studies evaluate whether HO expression is altered in pathological conditions, including dehydration and heart failure. Supported by NIH HL 090948‐01 to Stern JE and FAPESP 06/50628‐2 to Reis WL.
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