Abstract
Nitric oxide NO is an atypical neurotransmitter and is formed from L-arginine by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS), which is of three types, namely neuronal NOS (nNOS), endothelial NOS (eNOS), and inducible NOS (iNOS). nNOS and eNOS are constitutive, calcium-calmodulin dependent and release NO from neurons and endothelium, while iNOS is inducible, calcium independent and formed in activated immune cells. NO plays a modulatory role in brain, controlling release of neurotransmitters and is involved in synaptogenesis, synaptic plasticity, memory function and neuroendocrine secretion. Availability of animal models, use of NOS inhibitors and mutant mice lacking each NOS isoforms have provided evidence for the injurious effects of NO. NADPH-diaphorase staining is used to localise NOS containing neurons and 3-NT staining gives an idea of generation of NO. NO may also have some neuroprotective effects as NOS (NADPH-diaphorase positive) neurons are selectively resistant to NMDA mediated toxicity, ischaemic hypoxic insults and the degenerative processes of HD, AD, PD and ALS. Use of selective NOS inhibitors is beneficial in animal models, but has met with little or no success in the clinical treatment of neurodegenerative diseases perse. doi: 10.5214/ans.0972.7531.2007.140104
Published Version
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