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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Expression of Nitric Oxide Synthase I Determines the Strength of Adrenergic Cyclic GMP Response in the Rat Pineal Gland

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In the rat pineal gland the adrenergic cGMP response is not static but changes during postnatal development and depends on environmental lighting conditions. Since the adrenergic cGMP transduction is mediated by stimulation of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase I (NOS I), we investigated whether changes in the strength of adrenergic cGMP response coincide with the expression of NOS I. Using immunoblot analysis, we found that the increase in adrenergic cGMP transduction in the second postnatal week coincides with enhanced NOS I expression. Similarly, we observed that changes in the intensity of adrenergic cGMP transduction under different environmental lighting conditions correspond to NOS I expression. Our findings indicate that the current concept of NOS I being constitutively expressed is not generally valid. At least in the rat pineal, regulation of NOS I expression appears to determine the intensity of cGMP transduction.