In the body, nitric oxide is synthesized from arginine and oxygen by the
enzyme nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and requires the presence of calcium for its
production. NOS synthesizes NO depending on the availability of L-arginine,
which is supplied mainly from glial cells. The uptake of arginine into neurons is
controlled by non-NMDA glutamate receptors. Studies demonstrate that white
matter glial cells exhibit a large repertoire of neurotransmitter responses linked
to Ca++ signaling and that these receptor systems are differentially distributed on
sub-populations of glial cells.
NOS is mainly found in the hypothalamus which is the controller of enzyme
excretion, and controls the release of oxytocin and vasopressin. In the adrenal
gland, NOS is highly concentrated in a web of neurons in the adrenal glands
that stimulate adrenaline release. NOS is prominent in fibers and terminals in
the posterior pituitary gland but its function has not yet been established. It
is also found in the intestine, cerebral cortex, and the endothelial layer of the
blood vessels. NO participates in the release of Gonadotropin-releasing hormone
(GnRH) from the hypothalamus. Oxytocin stimulates the release of luteinizing
hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) by releasing nitric oxide.
The sleep hormone melatonin reduces NOS activity in the hypothalamus of
rats. Research has shown that people who have heart attacks have low melatonin
levels, perhaps this means higher cortisol levels which plays into heart disease.
Melatonin might be able to be used to reduce the intensity of kundalini activity by
helping to prevent hyperadrenalism. Besides being an anti-oxidant, melatonin has
also been shown to be important for the function of the immune system and also
indications that melatonin reduces inflammation by suppressing COX-2. Thus
cherries may be good for your heart as they contain high levels of melatonin.
NO has many roles in the cardiovascular system as it is a blood vessel dilator,
it thins the blood, reduces platelet stickiness, is involved in blood coagulation and
wound healing and is associated with the hearts function. The endothelium (inner
lining) of blood vessels uses nitric oxide to signal the surrounding smooth muscle to
relax, thus dilating the artery and increasing blood flow. Bluegreen Algae (spirulina)
helps to correct all the mechanisms of heart disease. Specifically, it improves the
Nitrous Oxide Synthase (NOS) pathway of inflammation, reducing inflammation
and oxidization of the arteries. A dysfunctional NOS is one of the most important
issues behind arterial endothelial inflammation. A lack of the amino acid L-Arginine
has been associated with significant inflammation/oxidation of the cell membranes
lining arteries. Marine phytoplankton is high in amino acids including L-Arginine,
and has been found to be critical to maintain a healthy NOS and endothelium.
When NO is formed by vascular endothelium, it rapidly diffuses into the blood
where it binds to hemoglobin and subsequently broken down. It also diffuses into
the vascular smooth muscle cells adjacent to the endothelium where it binds to and
activates guanylyl cyclase. This enzyme catalyzes the dephosphorylation of GTP to
cGMP, which serves as a second messenger for many important cellular functions,
particularly for signalling smooth muscle relaxation.