Nitric oxide in the eye: multifaceted roles and diverse outcomes.
Recent works have highlighted the role of nitric oxide in a wide array of disease entities, including septic shock, hypertension, cerebral ischemia, and chronic degenerative diseases of the nervous system. The functions of nitric oxide appear very diverse, having actions on vascular tone, neurotransmission, immune cytotoxicity, and many others. Nitric oxide is an important mediator of homeostatic processes in the eye, such as regulation of aqueous humor dynamics, retinal neurotransmission and phototransduction. Changes in its generation or actions could contribute to pathological states such as inflammatory diseases (uveitis, retinitis) or degenerative diseases (glaucoma, retinal degeneration). Localization in the eye and biochemical characteristics of nitric oxide will be reviewed. A better understanding of the nitric oxide pathway will be the key to the development of new approaches to the management and treatment of various ocular diseases.
Becquet
F
F
Retinal Development, Aging, and Pathology Laboratory, Inserm U450, Claude Bernard Association, University of Paris V, France.
Courtois
Y
Y
Goureau
O
O
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D009799:Ocular Physiological Phenomena; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009883:Ophthalmic Solutions; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase