Nitrogen production and deposition during adaptation to hypoxia

It is common knowledge that adaptation to hypobaric hypoxia provides fur a number of protective NO-dependent effects in the organism. However, many as pects of its influence on NO metabolism remain unclear. In this work we stu died the relationship between NO production and deposition in the course of adaptation to hypoxia. No production was assayed by the total concentratio n of nitrates and nitrites in rat serum, while the volume of NO depot was d etermined from the level of isolated aorta relaxation in response to diethy ldithiocarbamate in vitro. In the course of adaptation to hypoxia, nitrate and nitrite concentration-increases as well as NO deposition in the vascula r wall. The volume of NO depot correlated reliably with the serum concentra tion of nitrates and nitrites, Hence, adaptation to hypoxia increases NO pr oduction and deposition, which can underlie its NO-dependent protective eff ects.