Spinal cord transection significantly influences nNOS-IR in neuronal circuitry that underlies the tail-flick reflex activity.

Aim: Spinal cord transection interrupts supraspinal input and leads to the development of prominent spasticity. In this study, we investigated the effect of rat spinal cord transection performed at low thoracic level on changes in (i) neuronal nitric oxide synthase immunoreactivity (nNOS-IR), and (ii) the level of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) protein in the neuronal circuitry that underlies tail-flick reflex.

Methods: nNOS-IR was detected by immunohistochemistry and the level of nNOS protein was determined by the Western blot analysis.