Role of NO in the Hippocampus Injury by Chronic Stress in Rats

Objective To explore the role in hippocampus injury by chronic stress.Methods L-NNA was microinjected into the hippocampus of chronic stressed rats,and then Nissl staining and biochemical assay were done to test the number of hippocampal neurons,the content of NO and malondialdehyde(MDA),the activing of nitric oxide synthase(NOS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD).Results Microinjection of L-NNA into the hippocampus markedly alleviated the decrease in hippocampus neuron number,the increase in NO and MDA content,the heightening of NOS activing and the dropping of SOD activing,caused by chronic stress.Conclusion NO is involved in the hippocampus injury caused by chronic stress,and it may be associated with the production of free radicals.