Adhesion Development and the Expression of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase

Objective: This study was conducted to determine whether nitric oxide (NO), a potent vasodilator and inhibitor of thrombus formation, is involved in the formation and maintenance of adhesions. Methods: Skin, subcutaneous tissues, peritoneum and adhesions were collected from surgical patients and total RNA was isolated. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR) was performed to quantitate endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and β-actin mRNA levels. Results: eNOS mRNA levels for skin, subcutaneous tissue, peritoneum and adhesions were ≤ 3.12 × 10(-4), ≤ 3.12 × 10(-4), 6.24 × 10(-4) and 2.5 × 10(-3) attomoles/μl, respectively. β-actin mRNA levels for all tissues were between 1.25 × 10(-1) and 6.25 × 10(-2) attomoles/μl. Conclusion: eNOS mRNA can be identified in tissue adhesions, and may therefore play a role in adhesion formation and maintenance.