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Updated: Aug 25, 2026

Chemiluminescence-based Assays for Detection of Nitric Oxide and its Derivatives from Autoxidation and Nitrosated Compounds
Published on: February 16, 2022
Formation of nitric oxide from nitrous acid in ischemic tissue and skin
Anthony R Butler1, John H Ridd
1Bute Medical School and Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9ST, UK. arb3@st-and.ac.uk
Abstract:
Nitric oxide (NO) can form from nitrous acid under conditions of low pH and formation of the gas N2O3 is the rate-determining step. Published data allow us to calculate the rate at which NO forms from nitrite in a closed system such as circulating blood plasma. Because of the bimolecular reactions involved, and the very low concentration of nitrite, the rate of formation of NO is very slow. It might take at least 12 days, when the pH of nitrite solution is lowered, for the concentration of NO to reach a level sufficiently high to activate guanylyl cyclase and so it seems unlikely that naturally circulating nitrite is involved in vasodilation in ischemic tissue through its conversion into NO. It is more realistic to consider that NO is produced at biologically significant concentrations from nitrite in perspiration on the skin.
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