Structural and Functional Changes in the Activation of NO-synthase Neurons in the Hypothalamic Nuclei in Acute Alcohol Intoxication

The article investigates the expression of neuronal NO-synthase system marker, which is NADPH diphosphorylase, in various structures and nuclei of the hypothalamus according to the rat brain atlas (Paxinos, & Watson, 1982, p. 1) of the control group (normal) and the group of acute alcohol intoxication. Compared to the control group, in rats with acute alcohol intoxication, the expression of neurons of the NO synthase system, namely their density and number after ethanol administration, was traced on sections of hypothalamic structures. In the cytoplasm, we found mainly small (up to 5 μm) neurons in diameter and medium (up to 15 μm) neurons. The peculiarity of these sections is that the intensity of staining and the staining of the general background of the preparation was higher than in the control group. This feature indicates a high activity and concentration of NO synthase neurons in the hypothalamus. I would like to draw attention (of the second group of alcohol intoxication) to the nuclei of the SO and PaV, where the quantitative content of NO increased significantly (by 200 ± 25%), at all given levels from the bregma compared to the control group. It should also be noted that acute alcohol intoxication caused a significant increase in NOS density (by 37 ± 4.6%) in the LH nucleus compared to the control group, and NOS activity in the anterior hypothalamus (AH) increased by (26 ± 3.2%).