[Biochemistry and medical value of NO. Physiology and physiopathology of nitric oxide]

Abstract

The metabolism of nitric oxide (NO) and its derivatives has the advantage of ubiquitarian distribution and these compounds have multiple biological effects. The way of synthesis is simple and this biochemistry produces many variable products in normal physiological conditions. The way of synthesis is simple and this biochemistry produces many variable products in normal physiological conditions. The way of transportation and the pH (giving a particular redox condition) determine its half-life, the function of the molecule and its transmitted message. The advantage of the general distribution of this synthesis is probably a disadvantage in pharmacological approaches. Drugs which will increase or decrease the NO production have to act in a very precise location in a complex physiology so as not to produce more adverse side-effects in another location than benefit effects on the target. This review is a synthesis of the physiology and pathology of this biological information transmitting system.