Role of nitric oxide in central sympathetic outflow

Kaushik P. Patel, Yi Fan Li, Yoshitaka Hirooka

Research output: Contribution to journalShort surveypeer-review

198 Scopus citations

Abstract

The gaseous molecule nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in cardiovascular homeostasis. It plays this role by its action on both the central and peripheral autonomic nervous systems. In this review, the central role of NO in the regulation of sympathetic outflow and subsequent cardiovascular control is examined. After a brief introduction concerning the location of NO synthase (NOS) containing neurons in the central nervous system (CNS), studies that demonstrate the central effect of NO by systemic administration of NO modulators will be presented. The central effects of NO as assessed by intracerebroventricular, intracisternal, or direct injection within the specific central areas is also discussed. Our studies demonstrating specific medullary and hypothalamic sites involved in sympathetic outflow are summarized. The review will be concluded with a discussion of the role of central NO mechanisms in the altered sympathetic outflow in disease states such as hypertension and heart failure.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)814-824
Number of pages11
JournalExperimental Biology and Medicine
Volume226
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001

Keywords

  • Central nervous system
  • Nitric oxide
  • Sympathetic outflow

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

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