NITRIC-OXIDE IN THE EYE - MULTIFACETED ROLES AND DIVERSE OUTCOMES

Recent works have highlighted the role of nitric oxide in a wide array of disease entities, including septic shock, hypertension, cerebral i schemia, and chronic degenerative diseases of the nervous system. The functions of nitric oxide appear very diverse, having actions on vascu lar tone, neurotransmission, immune cytotoxicity, and many others. Nit ric oxide is an important mediator of homeostatic processes in the eye , such as regulation of aqueous humor dynamics, retinal neurotransmiss ion and phototransduction. Changes in its generation or actions could contribute to pathological states such as inflammatory diseases (uveit is, retinitis) or degenerative diseases (glaucoma, retinal degeneratio n). Localization in the eye and biochemical characteristics of nitric oxide will be reviewed. A better understanding of the nitric oxide pat hway will be the key to the development of new approaches to the manag ement and treatment of various ocular diseases. (C) 1997 by Elsevier S cience Inc. All rights reserved.