A gas that is produced both outside the body as a pollutant (for example, in car exhaust fumes), and inside the body, where it takes the form of a molecule that acts as a messenger between cells. Nitric oxide causes blood vessels to dilate, affecting the flow of oxygenated blood and regulating blood pressure. Overproduction of nitric oxide is associated with various disorders, including toxic shock, rheumatoid arthritis, and diabetes mellitus; underproduction may cause impotence and angina. The control of nitric oxide is an important element of many drug treatments.
Nitric oxide (NO) |
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