Chemicals and Drugs

Nitric Oxide

A free radical gas produced endogenously by a variety of mammalian cells, synthesized from ARGININE by NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE. Nitric oxide is one of the ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT RELAXING FACTORS released by the vascular endothelium and mediates VASODILATION. It also inhibits platelet aggregation, induces disaggregation of aggregated platelets, and inhibits platelet adhesion to the vascular endothelium. Nitric oxide activates cytosolic GUANYLATE CYCLASE and thus elevates intracellular levels of CYCLIC GMP.

National Library of MedicineMedical Subject Headings2026

Structured Summary

Abstract

A free radical gas produced endogenously by a variety of mammalian cells, synthesized from ARGININE by NITRIC OXIDE SYNTHASE. Nitric oxide is one of the ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT RELAXING FACTORS released by the vascular endothelium and mediates VASODILATION. It also inhibits platelet aggregation, induces disaggregation of aggregated platelets, and inhibits platelet adhesion to the vascular endothelium. Nitric oxide activates cytosolic GUANYLATE CYCLASE and thus elevates intracellular levels of CYCLIC GMP.

Chemical Identity

Chemical Information

Molecular Formula
NO
Molecular Weight
30.006 g/mol
CAS Registry No.
10102-43-9
IUPAC Name
nitric oxide
InChIKey
MWUXSHHQAYIFBG-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES
[N]=O
MeSH Unique ID
D009569
Source
PubChem CID 145068

MeSH Record

Classification

Broader headings

Related Concepts

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Drug Class

Pharmacological Action

MeSH Record

See Also

MeSH Record

Synonyms

11 entry terms
  • Endogenous Nitrate Vasodilator
  • Mononitrogen Monoxide
  • Nitric Oxide, Endothelium-Derived
  • Nitrogen Monoxide
  • Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide
  • Monoxide, Mononitrogen
  • Monoxide, Nitrogen
  • Nitrate Vasodilator, Endogenous
  • Nitric Oxide, Endothelium Derived
  • Oxide, Nitric
  • Vasodilator, Endogenous Nitrate

MeSH Record

Aspects Covered

29 allowable subheadings

Indexed with the subheadings administration & dosage, adverse effects, agonists, analogs & derivatives, analysis, antagonists & inhibitors, biosynthesis, blood, cerebrospinal fluid, chemical synthesis, chemistry, classification, deficiency, economics, genetics, history, immunology, isolation & purification, metabolism, pharmacokinetics, pharmacology, physiology, poisoning, radiation effects, standards, supply & distribution, therapeutic use, toxicity, urine.

MeSH Record

History Note

1965

MeSH Hierarchy

Tree Numbers

  1. D01w.339w.409w.500w
  2. D01w.625w.550w.500w
  3. D01w.625w.700w.500w
  4. D01w.650w.550w.587w.600w
  5. D02w.389w.508w.500w

AMA Style

References

  1. National Library of Medicine. Nitric Oxide. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). 2026. Unique ID D009569. http://id.nlm.nih.gov/mesh/2026/D009569
  2. Nitric Oxide. In: Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nitric_oxide
  3. Nitric Oxide. In: Wikidata. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q207843
  4. Nitric Oxide. In: PubChem Compound. CID 145068. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/145068