MEASUREMENT OF NITRIC OXIDE IN BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES: DIAZOTIZATION METHOD

Bahar TUNÇTAN*°, Nurettin ABACIOGLU*

*Gazi University, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacology, Etiler 06330 Ankara, TURKEY.
°Corresponding Author

Summary:
Nitric oxide (NO) is a small, unstable, potentially toxic, diffusible, diatomic free radical. Although only recently established as a physiological messenger, NO is increasingly appreciated as a major regulator in the nervous, immune and cardiovascular systems. Besides mediating normal functions, NO has been implicated in pathophysiological states as diverse as septic shock, hypertension, stroke and neurodegenerative diseases. This assay is often suitable for evaluating the effects of various compounds on the regulation of immune system-mediated NO overproduction. The detection of nitrogen oxides using a spectrophotometric technique is particularly suited to this role. This article discusses the diazotization method and other methods for quantitation of nitrite and/or nitrate, end products of NO.

Key words:
Nitric oxide, biological sample, measurement, diazotization.