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Nitric oxide in microgravity-induced orthostatic intolerance: relevance to spinal cord injuryProlonged exposure to microgravity results in cardiovascular deconditioning which is marked by orthostatic intolerance in the returning astronauts and recovering bed-ridden patients. Recent studies conducted in our laboratories at University of California, Irvine have revealed marked elevation of nitric oxide (NO) production in the kidney, heart, brain, and systemic arteries coupled with significant reduction of NO production in the cerebral arteries of microgravity-adapted animals. We have further demonstrated that the observed alteration of NO metabolism is primarily responsible for the associated cardiovascular deconditioning. Recovery from acute spinal cord injury (SCI) is frequently complicated by orthostatic intolerance that is due to the combined effects of the disruption of efferent sympathetic pathway and cardiovascular deconditioning occasioned by prolonged confinement to bed. In this presentation, I will review the nature of altered NO metabolism and its role in the pathogenesis of microgravity-induced cardiovascular deconditioning. The possible relevance of the new findings to orthostatic intolerance in patients with acute SCI and its potential therapeutic implications will be discussed.
Document ID
20040087616
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Vaziri, N. D.
(University of California-Irvine Irvine, California, United States)
Purdy, R. E.
Date Acquired
August 21, 2013
Publication Date
March 1, 2003
Publication Information
Publication: The journal of spinal cord medicine
Volume: 26
Issue: 1
ISSN: 1079-0268
Subject Category
Aerospace Medicine
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other
Keywords
Review
NASA Discipline Cardiopulmonary
Review, Tutorial
Non-NASA Center

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