Loss of NADPH-diaphorase containing neurones after reversible focal ischaemia in rats delayed by L-NAME.

In the present study, NADPH-diaphorase histochemistry was used to assess the temporal evolution of the number of nitric oxide (NO)-synthase containing neurones after reversible focal cerebral ischaemia in rats. The number of NADPH-diaphorase containing neurones was reduced by 50% and 90% respectively 6 and 24 h after ischaemia. L-NAME, a NO-synthase inhibitor, prevented the loss of NADPH-diaphorase containing neurones observed 6 h after ischemia but not 24 h after ischaemia, suggesting that in the early phase, nitric oxide is involved in this phenomenon.