Page 205 - The Miracle of Hormones

A Wonderful Messenger:
Nitric Oxide

point is that this messenger
molecule is produced in various Macrophage
cells throughout our whole
body, and that it has important
functions in many bodily oper- Cell
ations. In order to understand receptors
how utterly astonishing the
activities of this molecule are,
Parasites
put yourself for a moment in proliferate
the place of NO and imagine
a
that you are undertaking its du-
ties.
Activation
1. First, imagine that you Iron signal
Oxygen
must take over the role of this Macrophage
molecule in adjusting the blood Argine
vessels. In order to do this suc-
cessfully, you must first know
the circulatory system and its
components—heart, blood and
blood vessels—very well.
2. In the course of various
Parasites' cell
daily activities such as sleeping, division
mechanism is
eating and playing sports, you b blocked
will need to communicate mes-
sages about the adjustment of When parasites and bacteria are in
their division (multiplying) stages
blood pressure to the relevant they form a relationship with
organs. In doing this, you can- macrophages, ensuring that they
produce NOs. (a) This enzyme
not overlook anything or make produces nitric oxide from oxygen
the slightest error. Otherwise, and argine, which adheres to its
own iron atom. The NO that is pro-
the blood pressure would fall
duced blocks the multiplication of
lower or rise higher than nor- parasites. (b)
mal, opening the way for a
stroke, shock, heart attack and

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