Inhaled Nitric Oxide

What you'll learn

Course overview

Nitric oxide is one of the most potent substances released by the vascular endothelium, and continuous formation acts on underlying smooth muscle to maintain vasodilation and blood flow. NO is a neuronal mediator that may be involved in neurotransmitter release, and synthesis of NO in the CNS involves the same pathways and same enzyme as in the endothelium. It now appears that stimulation of the glutamate receptor during ischemic reperfusion causes a prolonged release of NO, with subsequent tissue damage. Thus NO in the brain can be both beneficial by protecting, enhancing, and mediating the activity of neurons; and toxic by indiscriminately destroying neurons.