The Fate of Nitric Oxide in the Mammalian System Using N15 as Tracer and Isotopic Diluent

Principal Investigator: W. A. Skinner
Stanford Research Institute, California
September 1973

ARB Contract No. ARB-2-291 (Full Report)

ABSTRACT

During the past year the general fate of nitric oxide (NO) in the mammalian system and the metabolism of the NO-hemoglobin complex were investigated using the non-radioactive nitrogen isotope, N15, as an analytical and epidemiological tool.

Using rats, we demonstrated that (1) NO binds preferentially to erythrocytes, (2) the biological half-life of hemoglobin-bound NO is about one-quarter of an hour, (3) the diffusion rate of nitric oxide across the red cell membrane is rapid and (4) high concentrations of NO introduced into the circulating blood can be tolerated by the rat.

In studies of human blood, we demonstrated the presence of a low but measurable concentration of NO-hemoglobin complex that was independent of the smoking histories of the donors.

This report was submitted in fulfillment of SRI Project LSH-2189 and Contract ARB 2-291 by Stanford Research Institute under the sponsor- ship of the California Air Resources Board. Work was completed as of September 14, 1973.

• Entire Report (PDF - 1,806K)
• Addendum to Report No. 4 (PDF - 101K)

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