The activity of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) in homogenates of adult Fasciola hepatica was measured by the direct radiometric assay of the production of L-[3H]citrulline. This is the first radiometric study of the activity of nNOS in a fluke. The effect of arginase was tested. In the presence of L-valine, which is an inhibitor of arginase, the formation of L-[3H]citrulline decreased from 12% to 38%, depending on the time of incubation. This means that the arginase activity in the worm is high, and has to be taken into consideration when measuring the activity of nNOS. When co-factors, such as H4B, and NADPH, were omitted the formation of L-[3H]citrulline decreased significantly (29%). The effects of several nNOS inhibitors were tested. N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NAME), aminoguanidine and S-methyl-L-thiocitrulline added at a concentration of 1 mM inhibited the L-[3H]citrulline formation by 28%, 15% and 14%, respectively. Chelation of Ca2+ with 1 mM EGTA resulted in a 40% decrease in the formation of L-[3H]citrulline. These results indicate the presence of nNOS activity in homogenates of F. hepatica.

The free radical nitric oxide (NO) is a neuronal messenger which is synthesized from L-arginine and O2 by nitric oxide synthase (NOS). In the synthesis NO and L-citrulline are produced in a stoichiometric 1[ratio ]1 relation. The activity of NOS was analysed in homogenates of the rat tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta by measuring the formation of L-[3H]citrulline after incubation with L-[3H]arginine. The nature of NOS in H. diminuta was determined by studying the effect of 3 types of NOS inhibitors: (1) L-NAME, (2) EGTA, (3) 7-nitro-indazole. All inhibitors caused a significant but not complete reduction in the formation of L-[3H]citrulline. The results are discussed against the background of nerve cells and fibres positive for NADPH-diaphorase staining in H. diminuta.