title: Carbon monoxide: a putative neural messenger.
abstract: Carbon monoxide, an activator of guanylyl cyclase, is formed by the action of the enzyme heme oxygenase. By in situ hybridization in brain slices, discrete neuronal localization of messenger RNA for the constitutive form of heme oxygenase throughout the brain has been demonstrated. This localization is essentially the same as that for soluble guanylyl cyclase messenger RNA. In primary cultures of olfactory neurons, zinc protoporphyrin-9, a potent selective inhibitor of heme oxygenase, depletes endogenous guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP). Thus, carbon monoxide, like nitric oxide, may be a physiologic regulator of cGMP. These findings, together with the neuronal localizations of heme oxygenase, suggest that carbon monoxide may function as a neurotransmitter.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC 20307.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Glatt
authors.forename: G V
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Ronnett
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Snyder
mesh_terms: D000624:5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001483:Base Sequence; D001921:Brain / Q000201:enzymology*; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism*; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing) / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009251:NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D009474:Neurons / Q000201:enzymology*; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D006419:Heme Oxygenase (Decyclizing); D000594:Amino Acid Oxidoreductases; D009251:NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase; D000624:5-Aminolevulinate Synthetase; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase; D006152:Cyclic GMP