title: The role of nitric oxide in neurodegeneration. Potential for pharmacological intervention.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is involved in important physiological functions of the CNS, including neurotransmission, memory and synaptic plasticity. Depending on the redox state of NO, it can act as a neurotoxin or it can have a neuroprotective action. Data suggest that NO may have a role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and Huntington's disease. Additionally, these data indicate that inhibitors of the NO-synthesising enzyme, NO synthase, may be useful as neuroprotective agents in these diseases. In animal models, NOS inhibitors have been shown to prevent the neurotoxicity induced by 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and other dopaminergic toxins. However, the clinical effects of NOS inhibitors remain unknown.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Doce de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Jiménez-Jiménez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ortí-Pareja
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Navarro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase