Nitric oxide (NO) is a potent vasodilator, and hence plays a major role in controlling the vascular tone. Studies have demonstrated the role of NO in preserving the functional capacity of the endothelium, preventing atherosclerosis, vascular injury, hypertension among others. Moreover, the genotype and/or phenotype may reduce the bioavailability of NO, resulting in severe endothelial dysfunction and increased peripheral vascular resistance. Recent research has shown that the exercise increases the bioavailability of NO in the acute and chronic forms. However, the knowledge production related to the NO-mediated exercise still has gaps. Thus, the purpose of this short review is to attempt to elucidate the cellular mechanisms involved with the NO synthesis and regulation, and to demonstrate the progress in the scientific knowledge related to the bioavailability of NO mediated by exercise. In order to carry out this review, books and periodicals were used from PubMed, HIGWIRE, SciELO and LILACS databases, using "nitric oxide" and "exercise" as keywords in the search engine. The main considerations in the study were that the exercise increases the acute bioavailability of NO, and the chronic adaptations of exercise in relation to the cardiovascular parameters are dependent on the increased bioavailability of NO induced by the exercise.
Nitric oxide; Exercise
