Nitric Oxide

Nitric Oxide Latest News

In a study published in Science Translational Medicine, researchers found that a high dose of inhaled nitric oxide reduced drug-resistant Pseudomonas in a large-animal ICU model.

About Nitric Oxide

• It exists in a gaseous state and is composed of  one nitrogen and one oxygen atom.
• It was first prepared around 1620 by Jan Baptista van Helmont, and studied in 1772 by Joseph Priestley.
• Formation: It is formed through nitrogen oxidation.
• It can be created when lightning occurs, uniting nitrogen and oxygen in the air, or commercially by burning ammonia.

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Properties of Nitric Oxide

• It is a colorless, toxic gas.
• It is noncombustible but accelerates the burning of combustible material.
• It can be found in the natural environment and within parts of the human body.

Roles of Nitric Oxide

• It plays important chemical signaling roles in humans and animals, plus some medical uses.
• In animals, nitric oxide transmits signals to cells in the cardiovascular, nervous, and immune systems.
• The body synthesizes it from the amino acid L-arginine with the help of nitric oxide synthase.
• It helps regulate blood pressure by dilating blood vessels and acts as a neurotransmitter. 
• Impact on Environment: Nitric oxide is generated by automotive engines and thermal power plants, making it a serious air pollutant.

Source: TH