1: Eur J Pharmacol. 1997 Apr 4;323(2-3):R1-2. 

Role of carbon monoxide in heme-induced vasodilation.

Kozma F, Johnson RA, Nasjletti A.

Department of Pharmacology, New York Medical College, Valhalla 10595, USA.

We investigated the effects of carbon monoxide and heme-L-lysinate on the
diameter of isolated, pressurized gracilis muscle arterioles. Both agents
increased arteriolar diameter. The vasodilatory effect of heme-L-lysinate, but
not of carbon monoxide was prevented by an inhibitor of heme oxygenase. Hence,
heme-L-lysinate-induced vasodilation appears to be mediated by a product of
vascular heme metabolism, presumably carbon monoxide. This implies that vascular
formation of carbon monoxide may subserve a vasodilatory function.

PMID: 9128852 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]