The oxidation of N-hydroxylated compounds may result in production of nitrogen oxides, including nitric oxide (NO). Oxidation may be independent on NO-synthase. Production of nitrites and nitrates via NO from formaldoxime and glyceryl trinitrate was studied and compared. Superoxide ion, ions Fe2+ and Fe3+, methemoglobin and methemoglobin + NADPH + methylene blue, oxyhemoglobin and oxyhemoglobin + NADPH + methylene blue in the presence of atmospheric oxygen were used as oxidoreductive agents. Formaldoxime (triformaxime) was chosen as a newly recognized atypical cyclic oxime which can be converted to NO and glyceryl trinitrate as a well-known NO donor of quite different structure. From the oxidoreductive agents used, glyceryl trinitrate was not converted to nitrites or nitrates by Fe2+ or Fe3+ and by methemoglobin alone. Formaldoxime was resistant to the action of superoxide ion and methemoglobin alone. Importance of these possible metabolic pathways for production of NO from examined vasodilators is discussed.

Department of Biochemistry Faculty of Science Charles University Prague Czech Republic