NITRIC-OXIDE SIGNALING IN THE NERVOUS-SYSTEM

Nitric oxide is a new type of signalling molecule in both the central and peripheral nervous systems. It does not behave like a conventional neurotransmitter; instead, it may be best described as an inter-cellular second messenger. Nitric oxide is formed from the amino acid, L-arginine, and probably exerts many of its actions by stimulating soluble guanylate cyclase, hence causing an accumulation of cyclic GMP in target cells. The L-arginine-nitric oxide-cyclic GMP pathway is expressed widely throughout the central nervous system and it is becoming implicated in an increasing number of phenomena, both physiological and pathological. © 1993 Academic Press Limited.