NO-ergic Control of Blood Circulation in the Medulla Oblongata of Rats with Experimental Hemiparkinsonism under Prolonged Exposure to Continuous Light

Abstract

The study was conducted on rats with unilateral damage to dopaminergic (DA) neurons in substantia nigra of the midbrain (experimental hemiparkinsonism). Degeneration of dopaminergic (DA) neurons was accompanied by hyperactivity of those neurons that remained intact and responded to apomorphine (Apo) test by rotational movements. Depending on the number of rotations, three groups of animals were defined. In the medulla oblongata of rats with unilateral damage to dopaminergic (DA) neurons, a significant increase in the activity of inducible NO-synthase (iNOS) was observed, while the activity of constitutive NO-synthase (cNOS) tended to decrease compared with that in control rats. An activation of neuronal NOsynthase (nNOS) in those rats by injections of L-arginine in the medullary nuclei was accompanied by weakening the hemodynamic effects compared to those in control rats. An exposure of animals to all-night light for three weeks was accompanied by increasing the number of damaged DA-ergic neurons in substantia nigra. At that, a significant decrease in cNOS activity in the medulla oblongata was observed, leading to the inhibition of de novo synthesis of nitric oxide (NO). The reduction of NO synthesis in the medulla oblongata neurons of rats with experimental hemiparkinsonism following their exposure to continuous light was also evidenced by the reduction of the amount of nitrite (NO2-) anion.