Nitric Oxide

The purpose of this text is to allow the reader to gain perspective on the broad role of nitric oxide (NO) in the heart and coronary circulation in states of both health and disease. Experts in various areas of the involvement of NO in the function of the heart and coronary circulation have combined their effeorts to present an understanding of the cardiovascular role of NO. The role of NO in the normal heart including electrophsiology is discussed, as well as the important interaction of NO with the renin-angiotensin system. The role of NO in endothelial function and dysfunction, myocardial cell injury complete with backdrop for viewing the role of NO in cardiovascular therapy and disease states is discussed, including: atherosclerosis; hypertension; dilated cardiomyopathy; alcholic and diabetic cardiomyopathjis; and inflammatory diseases of the heart. The text also aims to hint at ways that future NO research might go.