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Nitric Oxide
Nitric oxide is one of the key factors in promoting the maximum peak of
kundalini and spiritual experience, and in the dissolution of the bodymind. Nitric
Oxide (NO) is associated with the main excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate
and the generation of action potentials in the nerves. NO and glutamate act as
excitatory neurotransmitters, used when high levels of activity are needed, such as
during HPA axis activation or sexual arousal. It appears that nitric oxide is a factor
present at the very cusp of our existence, both birth, death and resurrection. NO
seems to play a part in extreme readiness chemistry, thus it might be implicated
in the four great F-Responses: Fuck, Freeze, Fight-or-flight. Thus nitric oxide
is part of the body’s oxygen delivery system. Nitric oxide enriched hemoglobin
delivers more oxygen to the tissues without boosting heart rate or constricting
vessels. Hemoglobin senses oxygen levels and releases oxygen and nitric oxide when
oxygen levels are low. This property of nitric oxide and hemoglobin is now being
used to deliver increased oxygen to cancer tumors, which are always anaerobic
and hypoxic. Arginine is being researched as a possible cancer cure through its
influence on Nitric oxide chemistry. http://www.lef.org/protocols/prtcl-027.shtml
Nitric oxide is a recently discovered and highly unorthodox messenger
molecule. NO is a labile, free radical gas, although in most biological situations
NO is in solution. The discovery of NO as a neurotransmitter has radically altered
our thinking about synaptic transmission. NO is not stored in synaptic vesicles,
instead it is synthesized as needed by NO synthase (NOS) from its precursor
L-arginine. There are three forms of nitric oxide synthase enzyme: a neuronal
type called nNOS, an epithelial type called eNOS, and an inducible form called
iNOS.
In the central nervous system, nitric oxide is produced enzymatically in
postsynaptic structures in response to activation of excitatory amino acid receptors.
It then diffuses out to act on neighboring cellular elements, probably presynaptic
nerve endings and astrocyte (glial) processes. Being of such a small size NO is freely
diffusible across membranes. That is it does not react with receptors but diffuses
into adjacent cells. Because it is so liable NO cannot be stored by conventional
means nor inactivated after synaptic release. Its local biosynthesis constitutes the
only means for regulating NO levels, hence NOS is one of the most regulated
enzymes in biology. Thus the compartmentalization of NOS appears to be crucial
for its functionality by providing local NO levels.
The molecule possesses a small dipole moment because of the similar
electronegativity of oxygen and nitrogen, making it essentially hydrophobic, that
is it is not soluble in water. Its reactivity is due to the unpaired electron in the outer
valence orbital of its oxygen constituent. NO is not to be confused with laughing
gas or Nitrous Oxide for NO has one extra electron than Nitrous oxide and turns
to nitrogen dioxide on contact with oxygen. NO is a short-lived chemical transmitter,
that is almost nonreactive as a free radical compared to other oxygen radicals. Indeed,
NO decays within 6-10 seconds after its synthesis as it interacts with oxygen and
superoxide and quickly turned into nitrates and nitrites, or is quickly bound by the
iron in hemoglobin and binds with the iron in enzymes also.