一氧化氮(nitric oxide,NO)是最小及最简单的生物合成产物,自20世纪80年代发现内源性NO以来,其广泛且重要的生理及病理作用已引起大家的重视。NO在多个系统的生理和病理过程中所起的作用及机制不断得到阐明,它是一种新型的细胞内信使分子和效应分子。NO的研究已渗入到许多领域,成为这些学科领域的研究热点和前沿之一。1992年Science杂志将NO选为当年的明星分子(molecule of the year),突出了它的重要性。 Nitric oxide (NO) is the smallest and simplest product of biosynthesis. Since the discovery of endogenous NO in the 1980s, its widespread and important physiological and pathological effects have drawn people’s attention. The role and mechanism of NO in the multiple physiological and pathological processes are constantly clarified. It is a novel intracellular messenger molecule and effector molecule. The research of NO has penetrated into many fields and has become one of the research hotspots and frontier in these fields. The 1992 Science magazine chose NO as the molecule of the year, highlighting its importance.