[Iron as an inducer of nitric oxide formation in the animal body]

Citrate iron complex injections to mice or rats resulted in the nitric oxide formation detected by nitric oxide binding to iron-diethyldithiocarbomate complexes. The mononitrosyl iron complexes formed were paramagnetic and EPR active. The maximal nitric oxide concentrations in rat livers were 15-20 nm per gram of tissue. Phenosan-K (an antioxidant) inhibited partly the iron capacity to nitric oxide formation in animal organisms. The nitric oxide formation was proposed to be due to some endogenic amino groups oxidation by active oxygen agents or products of lipid or non-saturated fatty acid production under the prooxidant action of the iron.