Synthesis and Metabolism of Nitric Oxide

In chicken embryos, nitric oxide (NO) is accumulated in the pool of NO donors: S-nitrosothiols, nitrosyl-iron complexes, high-molecular-weight nitro-compounds. Oxidation of NO to nitrate occurs with different intensity in the embryos of different chicken breeds. In some embryos, NO donors accumulate almost without oxidation. Stable concentration of NO donors and nitrate in the blood of adult chicken is a result of dynamic equilibrium between NO synthesis and elimination (oxidation, consumption by other tissues, and excretion). As NO oxidation occurs mainly not in the blood, but in other tissues, decomposition of NO donors and NO oxidation are determined the properties of these tissues, in particular, the presence of physiological targets of NO, rather than spontaneous processes. Hence, evaluation of the intensity of NO metabolism is important for prediction of the efficiency of preparations containing NO donors and stimulators of its synthesis. Key Words: nitric oxide (NO); dinitrosyl-iron (II) complex containing thiol ligands (DNIC/ RSH); nitrate; blood; duodenum