NOS is responsible for synthesizing nitric oxide (NO) and citrulline from arginine. NO acts as an intracellular and intercellular messenger in low concentrations (important for neuronal differentiation, survival, and plasticity) and a cytotoxic molecule at high concentrations, able to contribute to pathological conditions including disorders in the brain, spinal cord injury, and neuropathic pain (50, 51). Interestingly, NO has also been known to act as a retrograde messenger, acting to promote long-term potentiation (LTP (52, 53). I propose that the activated NOS/NO system in SCI by microglia and macrophages induces neuropathic pain through changes in thalamic nuclei and increasing hyperexcitability in
NOS is responsible for synthesizing nitric oxide (NO) and citrulline from arginine. NO acts as an intracellular and intercellular messenger in low concentrations (important for neuronal differentiation, survival, and plasticity) and a cytotoxic molecule at high concentrations, able to contribute to pathological conditions including disorders in the brain, spinal cord injury, and neuropathic pain (50, 51). Interestingly, NO has also been known to act as a retrograde messenger, acting to promote long-term potentiation (LTP (52, 53). I propose that the activated NOS/NO system in SCI by microglia and macrophages induces neuropathic pain through changes in thalamic nuclei and increasing hyperexcitability in