Figure 1
Enzymatic activity of cNOS and iNOS in hippocampus of pigeon. A Mean values (+ s.e.m.) of the amount of L-citrulline (pmol/min/mg) produced by the reaction of the enzymatic activity of Ca2+ - dependent NOS (cNOS) in samples of hippocampal tissue homogenate. Data are expressed as ratio calculated relative to the mean of ZT0 group. One-way ANOVA. B Mean values (+ s.e.m.) in the amount of L-citrulline (pmol/min/mg) produced by the reaction of the enzymatic activity of Ca2+ - independent NOS (iNOS) in samples of hippocampal tissue homogenate expressed as ratio relative to the mean of ZT0 group. One-way ANOVA indicated between group differences (p < 0.001); * indicates p < 0.05 when compared to ZT8, ZT12 and ZT16; # indicates p < 0.05 compared with ZT12 and (+ s.e.m.) ZT16 (Tukey-Kramer test; n = 4 pigeons per group).
Figure 2
Protein expression of nNOS in hippocampus of pigeon. A Mean values (+ s.e.m.) of optical densitometric analyses of immunoreactive bands for nNOS in samples of hippocampal tissue homogenate normalized with Ponceau staining. Each mean was calculated with reference to the ZT0 value. The dashed line indicates the fitted curve by the Cosinor method. One-way ANOVA indicated group effects (p < 0.001); * indicates p < 0.05 when compared to ZT12, ZT16 and ZT20; # indicates p < 0.05 compared with ZT16 and ZT20 (Turkey-Kramer test; n = 4 pigeons per group). B Representative immunoreactive bands for nNOS and proteins detected by Ponceau staining in each group.
Table 1
Parameters of the circadian rhythmicity in the enzymatic activity of iNOS and of nNOS protein expression, obtained by adjusting the cosine curve by method Cosinor (Benedito-Silva, 1988)
| Acrophase | Bathyphase | Amplitude | Mesor | %R | P | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iNOS activity | 6 h36 a.m. ± 94 min | 6 h36 p.m. ± 94 min | 0,46 ± 0,19 | 0,29 | 52,10 | 0,001 |
| nNOS content | 9 h50 a.m. ± 38 min | 9 h50 p.m. ± 38 min | 0,24 ± 0,07 | 0,77 | 67,57 | 0,01 |
R% - Percent Rhythmic.
Acrophase - phase in which it is more likely to find the highest value of a sine curve set.
Mesor - average value of the fitted curve by the method Cosinor.