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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 27, 2026

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

Oxygen regulates tissue nitrite metabolism.

Erin Curtis¹, Lewis L Hsu, Audrey C Noguchi

¹Critical Care Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Antioxidants & Redox Signaling

|November 22, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Nitrite (NO2-) metabolism in tissues is regulated by oxygen levels. Low oxygen converts nitrite to nitric oxide (NO), while even low oxygen shifts metabolism to nitrate production.

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Analytical Techniques for Assaying Nitric Oxide Bioactivity

Analytical Techniques for Assaying Nitric Oxide Bioactivity

Published on: June 18, 2012

Area of Science:

Biochemistry
Physiology

Background:

Nitrite (NO2-) was once considered an inert nitric oxide (NO) byproduct but is now recognized as a NO reservoir.
Diet and NO oxidation are known sources of tissue nitrite, but its metabolism, especially at intermediate oxygen levels, is poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the rates and mechanisms of tissue nitrite metabolism across various oxygen concentrations.
To elucidate the role of oxygen in regulating nitrite metabolic pathways and products.

Main Methods:

Studied nitrite metabolism in different organs at varying oxygen tensions.
Utilized cyanide to prevent artifactual nitrite decay during metabolism measurements.
Administered nitrite orally and intraperitoneally to mice to assess tissue metabolism.

Main Results:

Nitrite consumption rates vary significantly between organs.
Oxygen concentration dictates the rate and products of nitrite metabolism.
Hypoxia leads to nitrite reduction to NO, forming iron-nitrosyl proteins and S-nitrosothiols.
Low oxygen concentrations (around 3.5 μM) promote nitrite oxidation to nitrate, involving enzymes like cytochrome c oxidase.

Conclusions:

Oxygen is a critical regulator of tissue nitrite metabolism, influencing both the rate and the resulting products.
Different tissues employ distinct nitrite reductase enzymes under hypoxic conditions.