Local cholinergic mechanisms mediate nitric oxide-dependent flow-induced vasorelaxation in vitro

The role of acetylcholine (ACh) in mediating nitric oxide (NO) release from the vascular endothelium was investigated by monitoring the release of NO from local cholinergic mechanisms using a standard bioassay system. The results showed that release of NO from the vascular endothelium can be mediated by local cholinergic mechanisms. ACh was shown to stimulate NO release from the vascular endothelial cells or from neighboring cells.