Abstract
Carbon monoxide, an activator of guanylyl cyclase, is formed by the action of the enzyme heme oxygenase. By in situ hybridization in brain slices, discrete neuronal localization of messenger RNA for the constitutive form of heme oxygenase throughout the brain has been demonstrated. This localization is essentially the same as that for soluble guanylyl cyclase messenger RNA. In primary cultures of olfactory neurons, zinc protoporphyrin-9, a potent selective inhibitor of heme oxygenase, depletes endogenous guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP). Thus, carbon monoxide, like nitric oxide, may be a physiologic regulator of cGMP. These findings, together with the neuronal localizations of heme oxygenase, suggest that carbon monoxide may function as a neurotransmitter.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
MeSH terms
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5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase / analysis
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5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase / genetics
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Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / analysis
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Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / genetics
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Animals
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Animals, Newborn
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Base Sequence
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Brain / enzymology*
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Carbon Monoxide / metabolism*
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Cells, Cultured
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Cyclic GMP / metabolism*
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Guanylate Cyclase / analysis
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Guanylate Cyclase / genetics
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Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / analysis*
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Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / genetics
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In Situ Hybridization
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Molecular Sequence Data
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NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase / analysis
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NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase / genetics
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Neurons / enzymology*
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Neurotransmitter Agents / metabolism*
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Nitric Oxide Synthase
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Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / chemistry
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RNA, Messenger / analysis
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Rats
Substances
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Neurotransmitter Agents
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Oligodeoxyribonucleotides
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RNA, Messenger
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Carbon Monoxide
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Nitric Oxide Synthase
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Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing)
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Amino Acid Oxidoreductases
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NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase
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5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase
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Guanylate Cyclase
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Cyclic GMP