Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase mRNA and production of nitric oxide are induced by adenosine triphosphate in cultured rat microglia.

The effect of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) on the expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA and production of nitric oxide in cultured rat microglia was examined. ATP induced iNOS mRNA dose-dependently (100-1,000 microM). The induction began within 1 h after addition of ATP (100 microM) with peak expression occurring at 6 h. The release of nitric oxide to culture medium was significantly increased by the treatment with ATP (100 and 1,000 microM) for 12 and 24 h. These results indicate that ATP is a potential mediator to induce iNOS mRNA expression and NO production in microglia.