C. Iadecola et al., NITRIC-OXIDE SYNTHASE INHIBITION AND CEREBROVASCULAR REGULATION, Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism, 14(2), 1994, pp. 175-192
There is increasing evidence that nitric oxide (NO) is an important mo
lecular messenger involved in a wide variety of biological processes.
Recent data suggest that NO is also involved in the regulation of the
cerebral circulation. Thus, NO participants in the maintenance of rest
ing cerebrovascular tone and may play an important role in selected va
sodilator responses of the cerebral circulation. Furthermore, evidence
has been presented suggesting that NO participates in the mechanisms
of cerebral ischemic damage. Despite the widespread attention that NO
has captured in recent years and the large number of studies that have
been published on the subject, there is considerable controversy rega
rding the role of this agent in cerebrovascular regulation and in isch
emic damage. In this paper the results of investigations on NO and the
cerebral circulation are reviewed and the evidence for and against a
role of NO is critically examined.