Partial biochemical characterization of nitric oxide synthase in the caudal spinal cord of the teleost Oreochromis niloticus

The present study demonstrates that a NADPH/Ca2+-dependent nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity is present in the soluble and in the particulate fractions of fish caudal spinal cord homogenates, both activities being inhibited by calmodulin inhibitors (W7 and/or TFP) and by the NOS inhibitor L-NAME. Moreover, Western blot analysis using either anti-NOS I or anti-NOS III antibodies shows that the soluble enzyme corresponds to the brain NOS (NOS-I) of mammals, whereas the particulate one is likely attributable to NOS I and/or NOS III (ecNOS) enzymes. To confirm the nitric oxide (NO) production by the caudal spinal cord homogenates, the NO-mediated conversion of oxyhemoglobin to methemoglobin was monitored spectroscopically. The present results are consistent with a constitutive, Ca2+-calmodulin- dependent, NO production by the caudal neurosecretory system.