Induction of calcium-independent nitric oxide synthase activity in primary rat glial cultures.

Exposure of primary cultures of neonatal rat cortical astrocytes to bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) results in the appearance of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity. The induction of NOS, which is blocked by actinomycin D, is directly related to the duration of exposure and dose of LPS, and a 2-hr pulse can induce enzyme activity. Cytosol from LPS-treated astrocyte cultures, but not from control cultures, produces a Ca(2+)-independent...