The role of nitrite in neurovascular coupling

Nitric oxide (NO), a potent vasodilator and nontraditional neurotransmitter, is an important mediator of the changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) associated with increased neuronal activity (neurovascular coupling). In the present work, we investigated the role of NO and of its newly recognized precursor, nitrite, in neurovascular coupling using a well-established rat model of somatosensory stimulation. Biological synthesis of NO of neuronal origin was inhibited pharmacologically. Following the initial uncoupling of neuronal and hemodynamic responses to somatosensory stimulation, the NO donor sodium nitroprusside, added within the range of physiological concentrations, significantly increased, but did not fully restore the functional CBF response. In contrast, nitrite at its physiological concentration fully recovered neurovascular coupling to its original magnitude. The magnitude of the effect is, however, dose-dependent. Sub-physiological concentrations of nitrite were not enough to entirely restore neurovascular coupling and supra-physiological concentrations acted more as a local vasodilator that changed resting CBF and interfered with the functional CBF response. These results suggest that nitrite can be efficiently converted into NO and utilized to support normal cerebrovascular physiology.