一氧化碳 (CO)为气体信使分子。神经组织内的CO由它的限速酶 血红素氧和酶分解血红素产生。在中枢神经系统 ,血红素氧合酶主要位于血脑屏障附近 ,在外周神经系统其分布比较广泛。内源性NO是重要的神经调节因子 ,对中枢及外周的神经组织均有调节作用。其信使分子作用可能通过激活可溶性鸟苷酸环化酶、作用于细胞色素氧化酶及NOS、影响细胞凋亡来完成。CO与NO两个密切相关的信号系统可能存在有相当程度的互相调节作用 ,并对神经元功能产生影响。 Carbon monoxide (CO) is a gas messenger molecule. CO in nerve tissue is produced by its rate-limiting heme oxygen and enzyme heme. In the central nervous system, heme oxygenase is mainly located near the blood-brain barrier and is widely distributed in the peripheral nervous system. Endogenous NO is an important neuromodulator that regulates both central and peripheral nervous tissues. The messenger molecules may be through the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase, acting on cytochrome oxidase and NOS, affecting apoptosis. Two closely related signal systems, CO and NO, may have a considerable degree of mutual regulation and affect neuronal function.