Brain fumes: yes, we have NO brain gas.
Nitric oxide (NO) is improbable as a conventional neurotransmitter. It is not an amine, amino acid, or peptide; it is not stored in synaptic vesicles or released by exocytosis; and it does not interact with specific receptor subtypes in neuronal membranes. However, NO is synthesized upon demand in the brain, diffuses to receptor sites within the enzyme guanylyl cyclase, and has neurotransmitter-like functions.
Stahl
S M
SM
Clinical Neuroscience Research Center, San Diego, CA, USA.
D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000096:biosynthesis; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000502:physiology*; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000502:physiology
D009569:Nitric Oxide; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase; D006152:Cyclic GMP