Nitric Oxide In The Vascular System Flashcards
Is NO lipophilic or hydrophilic
Lipophilic
Is NO a free radical
Yes
How reactive is NO
Stable and unreactive
How and where is dietary nitrate converted to NO
Nitrate -> nitrite in mouth
Nitrite -> NO in hypoxic tissues
Dietary sources of nitrate
Green leafy veg - lettuce, spinach, beetroot
Sources of NO
Diet
Endothelium
Nerves
Muscle
RBC
What subcategory of NO is derived from sources in and near the vasculature
Endogenous NO
Which Enzyme is involved in endogenous NO formation
Nitric oxide synthase
3 main forms of nitrogen oxide synthase
NOS type 1 - neuronal
NOS type 2
NOS type 3 - endothelial
What cofactor is needed by nitrogen oxide synthase types 1 and 3
Calcium
What type of enzyme is nitrogen oxide synthase
Oxidoreductase homodimer enzyme
What 3 domains are in each monomer of nitrogen oxide synthase
Reductase domain
Oxidase domain
Calmodulin domain
What happens to nitrogen oxide synthase when no BH4 is present
Destabilises, uncouples, and produces superoxide
How is nitric oxide synthesised
L arginine oxidised to L citrullanine+ NO, catalysed by NOS
What conditions are needed for nitric oxide synthesis
NOS
oxygen
Which molecule is endogenous NO synthesised from
L arginine
Where is endothelial nitric oxide synthase found
Plasma membrane bound on Endothelium of blood vessels
What promotes the dissociation of eNOS from Cav-1 allowing it to be released into the cytoplasm and activated
Shear stress causing wall stretching
How does increased shear stress activate eNOS
Increased intracellular calcium and phosphorylation of eNOS, release of endothelium dependent agonists
Agonists which stimulate NO formation
ACh
Bradykinin
Substance P
Adenosine
Where is neuronal NOS found
Brain autonomic nitrergic nerves
Brain neurones
Skeletal muscle sarcolemma
What molecule is nNOS attached to on the muscle sarcollema
Dystrophin
How does NO cause vasodilation
Diffuses into underlying smooth muscle -> activates guanylate cyclase -> converts guanosine triphosphate to cGMP -> cGMP acts through cGMP dependent protein kinases -> myosin inactivated -> inhibit contraction
What molecule does NO activate
Guanylate cyclase
How does NO maintain basal vascular tone
Continuous release from endothelium causes tonic vasodilation
How does NO maintain blood pressure
Reduced NO causes increased peripheral resistance increasing blood pressure
Does NO increase or decrease blood pressure
Decrease
What changes occur in the alerting/defence response
Incr BP
Incr HR
Incr forarm muscle blood flow
Decr skin blood flow
Decr visceral blood flow