Nitric oxide in the central nervous system: neuroprotection versus neurotoxicity.
At the end of the 1980s, it was clearly demonstrated that cells produce nitric oxide and that this gaseous molecule is involved in the regulation of the cardiovascular, immune and nervous systems, rather than simply being a toxic pollutant. In the CNS, nitric oxide has an array of functions, such as the regulation of synaptic plasticity, the sleep-wake cycle and hormone secretion. Particularly interesting is the role of nitric oxide as a Janus molecule in the cell death or survival mechanisms in brain cells. In fact, physiological amounts of this gas are neuroprotective, whereas higher concentrations are clearly neurotoxic.
Calabrese
Vittorio
V
Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Section, Faculty of Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. calabres@unict.it
Mancuso
Cesare
C
Calvani
Menotti
M
Rizzarelli
Enrico
E
Butterfield
D Allan
DA
Stella
Anna Maria Giuffrida
AM
D000818:Animals; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000517:prevention & control; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology* / Q000627:therapeutic use / Q000633:toxicity
D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide