Nitric oxide in the central nervous system: neuroprotection versus neurotoxicity

• Published in: Nature reviews. Neuroscience Vol. 8; no. 10; pp. 766 - 775
• Main Authors: Calabrese, Vittorio, Mancuso, Cesare, Calvani, Menotti, Rizzarelli, Enrico, Butterfield, D. Allan, Giuffrida Stella, Anna Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group 01.10.2007
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Central Nervous System - pathology; Central Nervous System - physiology; Degeneration; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects. Models. Methods; Humans; Nervous system; Neurodegenerative Diseases - metabolism; Neurodegenerative Diseases - prevention & control; Neuroprotective Agents - metabolism; Neuroprotective Agents - therapeutic use; Neurotoxic agents; Neurotoxicity Syndromes - metabolism; Neurotoxicity Syndromes - prevention & control; Nitric oxide; Nitric Oxide - physiology; Nitric Oxide - therapeutic use; Nitric Oxide - toxicity; Physiological aspects; Sleep. Vigilance; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Hormone; Pollutant; Cell death; Nitric oxide; Brain death; Synaptic plasticity; Central nervous system; Nervous system; Review; Sleep wake cycle; Survival; Immune system
• ISSN: 1471-003X; 1471-0048; 1471-0048; 1469-3178
• DOI: 10.1038/nrn2214

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.