nitric oxide in the cardiovascular system: a review

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Introduction
The gaseous free radical nitric oxide is an abundant intracellular messenger molecule that plays a central role in maintenance of health, and is heavily involved in signal transduction in various cells of the body [1]. This molecule acts as a mediator in the regulation of cardiac function as well as having an important role in regulating contractility of the heart and maintenance of vascular tone in the cardiovascular system. As one of the most significant individuals in our discovery of nitric oxide, Dr. Robert Furchgott pioneered our understanding of this molecule through his experiments on the vasorelaxant properties of acetylcholine and the subsequent proposal of the presence of the endothelium derived relaxing factor, which was later identified to be nitric oxide [7]. Given the observation that cardiovascular disorders are the number one cause of death in many nations around the world, research into the vasorelaxant properties seems particularly relevant in order to help combat rising rates of vascular hypertension and high blood pressure. In this paper, the properties of nitric oxide are discussed largely with respect to the cardiovascular system. This paper focuses on the synthesis and characteristics of nitric oxide, the mechanisms of action by which nitric oxide works and the regulation of nitric oxide in the body, and finally a short summary of Robert Furchgott’s contributions to the discovery of nitric oxide and its properties.
Synthesis of nitric oxide
Nitric oxide is a gaseous, diatomic molecule that plays an important role as a mediator of cardiac function, working largely as a vasodilator in the cardiovascular system. Nitric oxide is synthesized by a family of enzymes known as nitric oxide synthases (...

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...ve stress [8] and can help combat many cardiovascular disorders, thus confirming the protective capabilities of nitric oxide. Another one of nitric oxide’s protective capabilities stems from its role as a potent vasodilator, and these vasodilation properties are primarily achieved through the activity of eNOS. eNOS is a membrane bound protein that is classified as a calcium-calmodulin dependent enzyme [13]. At resting concentrations of calcium, eNOS generates low amounts of nitric oxide, however, as intracellular calcium concentration increases, there is a potent enhancement of nitric oxide production by eNOS [13], which then goes on to cause vasodilation to prevent blockage of blood flow. Due to its generally low output, eNOS is largely associated with basal cardiac function, while iNOS is a much higher output enzyme, generating much more nitric oxide than eNOS [5].

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