Imaging of nitric oxide generation in the rat brain

Nitric oxide radicals produced in the rat brain subjected to ischemia-hypoxia were trapped by the systemically administered diethyldithiocarbamate and iron. The right hemisphere of the brain was then removed and frozen with liquid nitrogen. Three-dimensional spatial distribution of the nitric oxide radicals in this hemisphere was performed using electron paramagnetic resonance imaging techniques. The results suggest that nitric oxide radicals were produced and trapped in the areas which are known to have high nitric oxide synthase activity, such as piriform cortex, hippocampus, hypothalamus, amygdala, and substantia nigra. In this model, which did not interrupt the posterior circulation, the production and trapping of nitric oxide in the cerebellum was relatively weak.