PMID: 9536016May 16, 1998Paper

Cyanide-induced generation of oxidative species: involvement of nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2

The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
P G GunasekarGary E Isom

Abstract

In cerebellar granule cells, potassium cyanide (KCN) activates the NMDA receptor resulting in generation of nitric oxide and reactive oxygen species (ROS). To study the mechanism by which KCN stimulates ROS generation, the action of cyanide on the enzymatic pathways known to generate ROS were studied. The oxidant-sensitive fluorescent dye, 2,7-dichlorofluorescin was used to measure intracellular levels of nitric oxide and ROS in cerebellar granule cells. Using selective enzyme inhibitors, it was shown that both protein kinase C and phospholipase A2 are involved in KCN-stimulated generation of NO and ROS. In cells treated with indomethacin or nordihydroguairetic acid, inhibitors of cyclooxygenase (COX) and lipoxygenase (LOX) respectively, attenuated (approximately 35%) KCN-induced generation of oxidant species. When L-NAME (LG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester) (nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, NOS) was combined with either indomethacin or nordihydroguairetic acid, generation of oxidant species was blocked by more than 80%. Pretreatment with NS398 (COX-2 inhibitor) significantly decreased ROS generation indicating the involvement of COX-2 in KCN-induced oxidant generation. Treatment with L-NAME + NS398 blocked oxidant species genera...Continue Reading

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