A free radical gas produced endogenously by a variety of mammalian cells, synthesized from ARGININE by NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE. Nitric oxide is one of the ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT RELAXING FACTORS released by the vascular endothelium and mediates VASODILATION. It also inhibits platelet aggregation, induces disaggregation of aggregated platelets, and inhibits platelet adhesion to the vascular endothelium. Nitric oxide activates cytosolic GUANYLATE CYCLASE and thus elevates intracellular levels of CYCLIC GMP.
Also Known As:
Nitrogen Monoxide; Endogenous Nitrate Vasodilator; Mononitrogen Monoxide; Nitric Oxide, Endothelium-Derived; Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide; Monoxide, Mononitrogen; Monoxide, Nitrogen; Nitrate Vasodilator, Endogenous; Nitric Oxide, Endothelium Derived; Oxide, Nitric; Vasodilator, Endogenous Nitrate; Nitrogen oxide (NO)