[Stimulation of transcription in mouse liver cells by nitrogen oxide free radicals]

The ESR signal of nitrosyl complexes appears in mouse liver after hydroxylamine injection in vivo. This ESR signal testifies to the appearance of NO free radicals. The concomitant accumulation of [3H]uridine in liver RNA evidences for stimulation of transcription. This stimulation is about the same order of magnitude as the stimulation of transcription after gamma-irradiation of mice with lethal doses. It is assumed that NO and, possibly, other oxygen free radicals can disorder the gene expression machinery in the cells.