NO as a signalling molecule in the nervous system

• Published in: British journal of pharmacology Vol. 135; no. 5; pp. 1079 - 1095
• Main Author: Esplugues, Juan V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.03.2002; Nature Publishing
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Calcium - metabolism; Calcium Channels - metabolism; Central Nervous System - metabolism; CNS; Cyclic GMP - metabolism; Enzyme Activation; Medical sciences; NANC; Neurons - metabolism; neurotransmission; Nitric Oxide - biosynthesis; Nitric Oxide Synthase - biosynthesis; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I; NOS synthases; Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate - agonists; Review; Signal Transduction; signalling; stroke; Synaptic Transmission
• ISSN: 0007-1188; 1476-5381
• DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0704569

The discovery that nitric oxide (NO) functions as a signalling molecule in the nervous system has radically changed the concept of neural communication. Indeed, the adoption of the term nitrergic for nerves whose transmitter function depends on the release of NO or for transmission mechanisms brought about by NO emphasizes the specific characteristics of this mediator. The physical properties of NO prevent its storage in lipid-lined vesicles and metabolism by hydrolytic degradatory enzymes. Therefore, unlike established neurotransmitters, NO is synthesized on demand and is neither stored in synaptic vesicles nor released by exocytosis, but simply diffuses from nerve terminals. Endothelial NOS (eNOS) and inducible NOS (iNOS) are present in the nervous system and will be duly addressed here. However, neuronal NOS (nNOS) is the principal isoform present in said system and will be the main focus of this review.