title: Nitric oxide and its role in the cardiovascular system.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is a ubiquitous, naturally occurring molecule found in a variety of cell types and organ systems. In the cardiovascular system, NO is an important determinant of basal vascular tone, prevents platelet activation, limits leukocyte adhesion to the endothelium, and regulates myocardial contractility. NO may also play a role in the pathogenesis of common cardiovascular disorders, including hypotension accompanying shock states, essential hypertension, and atherosclerosis. In this review, we discuss the biochemistry of NO and focus on its biology and pathophysiology in the cardiovascular system.
authors.affiliation: Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Evans Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, MA, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Loscalzo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Welch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism; D002199:Capillary Permeability; D002319:Cardiovascular System / Q000378:metabolism*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002455:Cell Division; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000502:physiology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology; D009200:Myocardial Contraction; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D015539:Platelet Activation; D011817:Rabbits; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000378:metabolism; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000378:metabolism; D014661:Vasoconstriction; D014664:Vasodilation
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase