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Abstract
Electron microscopic immunocytochemistry was used to localize immunoreactivity for
nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in whole-mount preparations of myenteric plexus and circular
muscle from guinea-pig ileum. NOS immunoreactivity was patchily distributed in myenteric
neurons and was not specifically associated with any subcellular organelle or with
the plasma membrane. This localization leaves unanswered the question of how nitric
oxide is stored and released. NOS immunoreactive fibres in the circular muscle were
found closer than 100 nm to muscle cells. NOS immunoreactive nerve fibres made synaptic
contacts with NOS immunoreactive and non-immunoreactive enteric neurons. These results
indicate that nitric oxide may regulate the activity of both myenteric neurons and
smooth muscle.