Nitric Oxide Education
Learn more about Nitric Oxide, it’s discovery, it’s function in the body and how it affects health and wellness.
Six Topics
Dr. Lou Ignarro accepts the Nobel Prize in Medicine, 1998
Topic 01 · The Foundation
The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for Nitric Oxide was awarded in 1998 to three pharmacologists working independently. The title of the Nobel Prize was “Nitric Oxide as a Unique Signaling Molecule in the Cardiovascular System”
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Topic 02 · The Discovery
By 1989 both the biosynthesis and mechanism of action of NO were elucidated. It became clear that NO is a signaling molecule produced enzymatically from L-arginine and then immediately activates cytosolic guanylate cyclase by heme-dependent mechanisms to elevate cyclic GMP.
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Topic 03 · The Essentials
Nitric Oxide, also known as NO, is a natural signaling molecule produced in the arteries, brain and many other organs in the body. In its natural state, NO is a very unstable gaseous molecule that lasts for only a second or less after being produced inside cells.
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Topic 04 · In the Body
Nitric oxide dilates blood vessels, improving blood supply, and lowering blood pressure. NO, therefore, helps protect tissues from damage due to low blood flow. Acting also as a neurotransmitter, NO is released from the nitrergic neurons into the smooth muscle of the gastrointestinal tract and erectile tissue. Many disorders and diseases are associated with a decline in NO production as we age.
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Topic 05 · A Landmark Application
Viagra is the trade name for sildenafil, which improves erectile function in males by greatly increasing the local vasodilator action of NO in the erectile tissue within the penis.
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Topic 06 · In Daily Life
Nitric oxide production is essential for overall health because it allows blood, nutrients and oxygen to travel to every part of your body effectively and efficiently. Fortunately, there are many ways to maintain optimal levels of nitric oxide in your body.
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Say Yes to NO
Begin with the fundamentals, or with the story of the scientist who discovered it.
