Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway

Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway

Nitric oxide (NO), an inorganic gas, acts as a potent second messenger in most animal and plant tissues. NO diffuses out of the cells that produce it and enters the neighboring cells to generate a downstream response. NO synthase (NOS) catalyzes NO production by the deamination of the amino acid arginine. There are three isoforms of NOS. Endothelial cells have endothelial NOS (eNOS), nerve and muscle cells have neuronal NOS (nNOS), and macrophages produce inducible NOS (iNOS) upon exposure to...

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply

Rapidly dividing tumors, embryos, and wounded tissues require more oxygen than usual, lowering the oxygen concentration in the blood. At low oxygen or hypoxic conditions, an oxygen-sensitive transcription factor called the hypoxia-inducible factor 1 or HIF1 is activated. HIF1 is a dimeric protein of alpha (ɑ) and beta (β) subunits. Under optimal oxygen conditions, HIF1β is present in the nucleus while HIF1ɑ remains in the cytosol. HIF1ɑ is hydroxylated by prolyl hydroxylase and factor...

Antianginal Drugs: Nitrates and β-Blockers

Antianginal Drugs: Nitrates and β-Blockers

In cardiovascular health, antianginal drugs combat angina pectoris — a condition marked by chest pain owing to diminished blood flow to the heart.
Organic nitrates, such as nitroglycerin, play a pivotal role. Once metabolized, they liberate nitric oxide, a molecular marvel. Nitric oxide triggers guanylyl cyclase and augments cGMP production. This biochemical cascade orchestrates the relaxation of vascular smooth muscles, ushering in vasodilation and enhancing coronary blood flow. Administered...

Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators

Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators

Vasodilators, primarily affecting the smooth muscles within arterial and venous walls, are commonly used for hypertension treatment. Medications such as minoxidil and hydralazine primarily target arteries and arterioles, while sodium nitroprusside acts on arterioles and venules. Minoxidil, functioning as a prodrug, is metabolized by hepatic sulfotransferase into its active form, minoxidil sulfate, after oral administration. This metabolite binds to the sulfonylurea receptor (SUR) component of...

Mechanism of Angiogenesis

Mechanism of Angiogenesis

Blood vessel formation starts early during embryonic development, around day 7. In the extraembryonic yolk sac, mesodermal precursor cells called hemangioblast proliferate and differentiate into angioblast. Angioblasts express vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 or VEGFR2, which binds VEGF-A, a proangiogenic factor, guiding blood vessel formation. VEGF signaling promotes angioblasts to form a blood island in the developing embryo. Angioblasts further differentiate, giving rise to...

Structure of Blood Vessels

Structure of Blood Vessels

Blood is circulated throughout the human body through a network of blood vessels called the circulatory system. This system includes arteries that transport blood from the heart to various body parts. These arterial pathways divide into smaller vessels until they reach the arterioles, which further split into capillaries. It is within these minuscule capillaries that the exchange of nutrients and waste products takes place. After this exchange, the blood is collected by venules, which fuse to...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

De Novo exposomic geospatial assembly of chronic disease regions with machine learning & network analysis.

EBioMedicine·2025

Same author

Integrating pharmacogenomics and cheminformatics with diverse disease phenotypes for cell type-guided drug discovery.

Genome medicine·2025

Same author

Avoiding Rash Decisions.

The New England journal of medicine·2024

Same author

NetMedPy: A Python package for Large-Scale Network Medicine Screening.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2024

Same author

Two Sides to the Story.

The New England journal of medicine·2024

Same author

Author Correction: Branched-chain α-ketoacids aerobically activate HIF1α signalling in vascular cells.

Nature metabolism·2024

Same journal

The Distribution of Kell Blood Group Antigens and Phenotypes (K and K) Among Saudi Blood Donors of King Abdulaziz Medical City - Western Region: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Journal of blood medicine·2026

Same journal

A Delphi Consensus by Hematologists on the Burden of Treatment on Patients with Severe Hemophilia in Mexico.

Journal of blood medicine·2026

Same journal

A Clinical Investigation of Hypoxic Red Blood Cell Administration in Patients with Transfusion-Dependent Hematological Malignancies and Burns.

Journal of blood medicine·2026

Same journal

ATG Plus Post-Transplantation Cyclophosphamide Improves EBV-DNA Clearance and GVHD in Patients of Adult Chronic Active Epstein-Barr Virus Disease Undergoing Allogeneic HSCT.

Journal of blood medicine·2026

Same journal

Care Patterns, Outcomes, and Costs in Peripheral T-Cell Lymphoma Patients with First-Line Treatment in Routine Clinical Practice in Europe.

Journal of blood medicine·2026

Same journal

Malignancy-Associated Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis: An Experience of 15 Years in Polish Pediatric Hematology Centers.

Journal of blood medicine·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Chemiluminescence-based Assays for Detection of Nitric Oxide and its Derivatives from Autoxidation and Nitrosated Compounds

Chemiluminescence-based Assays for Detection of Nitric Oxide and its Derivatives from Autoxidation and Nitrosated Compounds

Published on: February 16, 2022

Vascular Nitric Oxide: Formation and Function.

Richard C Jin¹, Joseph Loscalzo

¹Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Journal of Blood Medicine

|May 17, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Nitric oxide (NO) is vital for vascular health, preventing platelet activation via cGMP-dependent pathways. Insufficient NO bioavailability contributes to endothelial dysfunction and vascular diseases.

More Related Videos

Preparation of Rat Skeletal Muscle Homogenates for Nitrate and Nitrite Measurements

Preparation of Rat Skeletal Muscle Homogenates for Nitrate and Nitrite Measurements

Published on: July 29, 2021

Application of Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Nitric Oxide (NO•) Probes, the geNOps, for Real-time Imaging of NO• Signals in Single Cells

Application of Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Nitric Oxide (NO•) Probes, the geNOps, for Real-time Imaging of NO• Signals in Single Cells

Published on: March 16, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Chemiluminescence-based Assays for Detection of Nitric Oxide and its Derivatives from Autoxidation and Nitrosated Compounds

Chemiluminescence-based Assays for Detection of Nitric Oxide and its Derivatives from Autoxidation and Nitrosated Compounds

Published on: February 16, 2022

Preparation of Rat Skeletal Muscle Homogenates for Nitrate and Nitrite Measurements

Preparation of Rat Skeletal Muscle Homogenates for Nitrate and Nitrite Measurements

Published on: July 29, 2021

Application of Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Nitric Oxide (NO•) Probes, the geNOps, for Real-time Imaging of NO• Signals in Single Cells

Application of Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Nitric Oxide (NO•) Probes, the geNOps, for Real-time Imaging of NO• Signals in Single Cells

Published on: March 16, 2017

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Vascular Biology
Pharmacology

Background:

Nitric oxide (NO), initially identified as an endothelium-derived relaxing factor, plays a crucial role in maintaining vascular health.
NO exerts antiplatelet, antithrombotic, and anti-inflammatory effects within the vasculature.
NO's biosynthesis is catalyzed by nitric oxide synthase (NOS).

Purpose of the Study:

To review the synthesis and biochemistry of nitric oxide (NO).
To discuss the mechanisms by which NO regulates platelet and endothelial function.
To examine the impact of vascular diseases on NO bioavailability.

Main Methods:

Literature review of nitric oxide synthesis and function.
Analysis of cGMP-dependent mechanisms in NO's antiplatelet effects.
Examination of factors affecting NO bioavailability, including ROS and substrate availability.

Main Results:

NO inhibits platelet activation and aggregation through cGMP-dependent pathways.
Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) is the key enzyme in NO biosynthesis.
Impaired NO bioavailability, often due to reactive oxygen species (ROS), is central to endothelial dysfunction and vascular diseases.

Conclusions:

Nitric oxide is essential for vascular homeostasis, regulating platelet and endothelial functions.
Dysfunctional NO pathways and reduced bioavailability are implicated in various vascular pathologies.
Understanding NO's role is critical for addressing endothelial dysfunction and vascular disease progression.