Nitric oxide: Involvement in the nervous control of cardiovascular function

Identification of nitric oxide (NO) as a neurotransmitter in the CNS resulted in initiation of numerous studies aimed at elucidating the roles of NO not only at a cellular level, but also in regulation of the activity of specific physiological systems coordinated by the brain. In this lecture, we will discuss the state of current knowledge about cellular events in the brain realized with the involvement of NO, distribution of NO-producing neurons in cerebral structures providing central cardiovascular control, peculiarities of NO production, and mechanisms underlying NO-mediated neuromodulatory effects on cardiovascular function. Activation of the NO system in the lower brainstem modulates a variety of neuronal pathways; NO was shown to induce GABA and glutamate releases within the medulla. The NO system in the brain is activated in the states of homeostatic imbalance, including hypertension and stress.Neirofiziologiya/Neurophysiology, Vol. 36, Nos. 5/6, pp. 466–478, September–December, 2004.This revised version was published online in April 2005 with a corrected cover date and copyright year.