COEXISTENCE OF NADPH DIAPHORASE WITH GABA, GLYCINE, AND ACETYLCHOLINE IN RAT SPINAL-CORD

The enzyme NADPH diaphorase is present in many spinal neurons, and is thought to correspond to nitric oxide synthase. In order to determine which types of neuron in the spinal cord contain this enzyme, we have carried out a combined enzyme histochemical and immunocytochemical study with antibodies to GABA, glycine, and choline acetyltransferase. Two hundred and twenty-four NADPH diaphorase-positive neurons in midlumbar spinal cord from four rats were tested for GABA- and glycine-like immunoreactivity. The majority of these neurons (207/224) were GABA-immunoreactive and 139 were also glycine-immunoreactive. NADPH diaphorase-positive neurons in laminae I and II generally showed both types of immunoreactivity, while those in deeper laminae of the dorsal horn and around the central canal either showed both types or else were only GABA-immunoreactive. Since GABA and acetylcholine are thought to coexist in spinal neurons, NADPH diaphorase staining was combined with immunostaining for choline acetyltransferase. Immunoreactive neurons in laminae III and IV were all NADPH diaphorase-positive, while only some of those around the central canal and in the deeper laminae of the dorsal horn were positive. Choline acetyltransferase-immunoreactive neurons in the intermediolateral cell column (presumed sympathetic preganglionic neurons) were often NADPH diaphorase-positive, whereas those in the ventral horn (presumed motorneurons) were not. NADPH diaphorase-positive cells in the intermediolateral cell column were not immunoreactive with GABA or glycine antibodies. These results suggest that NADPH diaphorase is largely restricted to GABAergic neurons in the lumbar spinal cord, and that it is mainly present in those neurons in which GABA coexists with glycine or acetylcholine. Since nitric oxide has been implicated in pain processing and hyperalgesia, while GABA, glycine, and acetylcholine are thought to be involved in analgesia and prevention of hyperalgesia, it is likely that nitric oxide synthase-containing GABAergic neurons in dorsal horn have dual actions in transmission of nociceptive information. (C) 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.