Neuronal nitric oxide synthase regulates regional brain perfusion in healthy humans.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) is highly expressed within the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Studies in genetically modified mice suggest roles in brain blood flow regulation while dysfunctional nNOS signalling is implicated in cerebrovascular ischaemia and migraine. Previous human studies have investigated the effects of non-selective NOS inhibition but there has been no direct investigation of the role of nNOS in human cerebrovascular regulation. We hypothesized that inhibition of the tonic effects of nNOS would result in global or localized changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF), as well as changes in functional brain connectivity.

Methods and results

We investigated the acute effects of a selective nNOS inhibitor, S-methyl-L-thiocitrulline (SMTC), on CBF a

SUBMITTER: O'Gallagher K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8953449 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature