Low concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) produced by constitutive NO synthase (cNOS) in pancreatic beta-cells have been suggested to be a physiological regulator of insulin secretion. In contrast, excessive NO produced by inducible NO synthase is known to mediate beta-cell apoptosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of low concentrations of NO on beta-cell apoptosis.
Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, 52-1 Yada, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka 422-8526, Japan.