The effect of rhizotomy on NADPH diaphorase staining in the lumbar spinal cord of the rat.

In the L6-S1 spinal segments of the rat NADPH diaphorase fiber-like staining extending along the lateral edge of the dorsal horn to the sacral parasympathetic nucleus was eliminated 1-3 weeks following dorsal-ventral L6-S1 rhizotomy. However, other NADPH diaphorase staining in the dorsal horn was not affected by rhizotomy. Rhizotomy also doubled the number (5 versus 10 cells/section) of NADPH diaphorase positive neurons in the region of the sacral parasympathetic nucleus (SPN). These data indicate that NADPH diaphorase is present in primary afferent projections to the SPN and that NADPH diaphorase activity in SPN neurons can be enhanced by neuronal injury. The functional significance of the NADPH diaphorase histochemical stain remains to be determined; however, if NADPH diaphorase is nitric oxide synthase then this would suggest that NO has an important role in the neural pathways to the pelvic viscera.