Nitric oxide (NO): physiology and metabolism (lecture)

Abstract

The chemical compound nitric oxide is a gas with chemical formula NO. It is one of the impotant signaling molecules, in the body of mammalians including humans, one of the few gaseous signaling molecules known. The NO molecule is a free radical, which is relevant to understanding its high reactivity. It reacts with the oxygen in air to form nitrogen dioxide. NO plays a key role in the regulation of numerous vital biological functions: immunology, cardiovascular system, peripheral nervous system, cell proliferation. Humans lose ability to produce NO with aging. Loss of endothelian NO function is associated with several cardiovascular disorders, including atherosclerosis. Dietary nitrate metabolism is dependent upon bacteria and stomach acid.

Keywords

• nitric oxide
• no
• functions
• predictor