Stroke, Vol 23, 1527-1532, Copyright © 1992 by American Heart Association
WI Rosenblum
BACKGROUND: The endothelium-derived relaxing factor that mediates the
actions of acetylcholine is now most frequently identified as nitric oxide.
Nitric oxide is believed to have numerous important regulating actions in
neurons, blood vessels, and several other biological systems. SUMMARY OF
REVIEW: The literature concerning tissue other than cerebral blood vessels
supports the conclusion that the endothelium- derived relaxing factor for
acetylcholine is either nitric oxide or a compound formed from and
containing nitric oxide (for example, a nitrosothiol). However, papers can
be found indicating that this endothelium-derived mediator is not nitric
oxide. In brain blood vessels the evidence is strongly against the
conclusion that nitric oxide is the endothelium-derived mediator for
acetylcholine. If this mediator is formed from nitric oxide, either in
brain vessels or in other vessels, no data are available delineating how
this synthesis is regulated or whether and where nitric oxide leaves the
nitroso compound to initiate dilation. Indeed, cerebrovascular data now
cast doubt on the commonly held belief that nitrosovasodilators regulate
vascular tone by giving off nitric oxide to vascular smooth muscle.
CONCLUSIONS: In brain blood vessels the chemical identity of the
endothelium-derived relaxing factor mediating the action of acetylcholine
is unknown, but this relaxing factor does not appear to be nitric oxide. If
the mediator contains nitric oxide, as is probably the case, the means by
which it activates vascular guanylate cyclase and/or produces dilation is
unknown. Since this relaxing factor inhibits platelet adhesion/aggregation
in cerebral vessels as well as relaxing these vessels, the chemical
identification of this relaxing factor and the elucidation of its mode of
action are extremely important to our understanding and control of
cerebrovascular phenomena in health and disease.
ARTICLES
Endothelium-derived relaxing factor in brain blood vessels is not nitric oxide
Department of Pathology (Neuropathology), Virginia Commonwealth University-Medical College of Virginia, Richmond.
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