Cholinergic control of heart rate by nitric oxide is site specific.
Parasympathetic control of heart rate involves the exocytotic release of acetylcholine and muscarinic receptor regulation of pacemaking currents. Endogenous nitric oxide can potentially regulate all of these processes; however, recent work suggests that the main functional role of nitric oxide lies in the modulation of acetylcholine release.
Herring
Neil
N
University Laboratory of Physiology, Oxford University, Oxford OX1 3PT, UK.
Danson
Edward J F
EJ
Paterson
David J
DJ
D000818:Animals; D001683:Biological Clocks; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000502:physiology; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*
D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III