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The Role of Nitric Oxide in Female Reproduction
Zheng Shen1,2, Guo-Dong Tie1, Xing-Xu Zhao2, En-Kui Duan1*
1State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, China; 2College of Vet Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) is produced by a group of enzymes called nitric oxide synthases (NOS)， which has three isoforms: endothelial (eNOS)， neural (nNOS) and inducible (iNOS). NO acts as an important intracellular messenger in a variety of systems including reproduction. In mammals， NO is known to be a major paracrine mediator and important regulatory agent in various female reproductive processes， such as ovulation， implantation， pregnancy maintenance， labor and delivery. Its benefits reach from contraception to preventing possibly lethal pregnancy complications. NO-donors may contribute to a reduction of fetal and maternal perinatal morbidity and mortality. NO-donors and NOS-inhibitors may provide novel， effective， safe and inexpensive drugs to regulate and steer various functions in female reproductive life.
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