Regulation of Oxygen Distribution in Tissues by Endothelial Nitric Oxide

Nitric oxide (NO) decreases cellular oxygen (O 2 ) consumption by competitively inhibiting cytochrome c oxidase. Here, we show that endogenously released endothelial NO, either basal or stimulated, can modulate O 2 consumption both throughout the thickness of conductance vessels and in the microcirculation. Furthermore, we have shown that such modulation regulates O 2 distribution to the surrounding tissues. We have demonstrated these effects by measuring O 2 consumption in blood vessels in a hypoxic chamber and O 2 distribution in the microcirculation using the fluorescent oxygen-probe Ru(phen) 3 2+ . Removal of NO by physical or pharmacological means, or in eNOS −/− mice, abolishes this …